Handcart

ABSTRACT

A handcart may include a drive wheel; a prime mover configured to rotate the drive wheel; a grip portion configured to be gripped by a user; and a visibly noticeable portion that is clearly noticeable from behind the user when the user stands behind the handcart, gripping the grip portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2019-146884, filed on Aug. 8, 2019, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technique disclosed herein relates to a handcart.

BACKGROUND

Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3210118 describes a handcart.This handcart includes a drive wheel, a prime mover configured to rotatethe drive wheel, and a grip portion configured to be gripped by a user.

SUMMARY

When transferring work is performed with a handcart as described above,it is desirable, in order to ensure safety, to inform a person or a carcoming from behind that the transferring work is in progress with thehandcart. The disclosure herein provides a technique for informing aperson or a car coming from behind that transferring work is in progresswith a handcart.

A handcart disclosed herein may comprise a drive wheel; a prime moverconfigured to rotate the drive wheel; a grip portion configured to begripped by a user; and a visibly noticeable portion that is clearlynoticeable from behind the user when the user stands behind the handcartgripping the grip portion.

In the above configuration, the visually noticeable portion can bevisually noticed from behind the user even when the user stands behindthe handcart, gripping the grip portion. Thus, the configuration caninform a person or a car coming from behind that transferring work is inprogress with the handcart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chassis unit 4 according to anembodiment, when seen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a handle unit 6 according tothe embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a handle base 16 according to theembodiment, when seen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the handle base 16 according to theembodiment, when seen from upper-rear-left side,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a right handle 18 according to theembodiment, when seen from upper-rear-left side,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a left handle 20 according to theembodiment, when seen from upper-rear-left side,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the chassis unit 4 with the right handle18 and the left handle 20 fixed at a highest position, when seen fromupper-front-right side,

FIG. 8 is a right side view of an internal structure of a switch box 40according to the embodiment,

FIG. 9 is a right side view of the internal structure of the switch box40 according to the embodiment, with a dead man's lever 42 pusheddownward and an operation lever 72 pushed upward,

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the chassis unit 4 according to theembodiment,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship amongthe dead man's lever 42, a first link member 84, and a pipe 34 accordingto the embodiment, when they are seen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a battery box 8 according to theembodiment, when seen from upper-rear-right side,

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the battery box 8 according to theembodiment, when seen from upper-front-left side,

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the battery box 8according to the embodiment,

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the battery box 8 according to theembodiment with a battery cover 106 opened, when seen fromupper-rear-right side,

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the battery box 8according to the embodiment with the battery cover 106 opened,

FIG. 17 is a top view of a front wheel unit 12 according to theembodiment,

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a brake equalizer 148 according to theembodiment, when seen from upper-rear-right side,

FIG. 19 is a top view of the brake equalizer 148 according to theembodiment,

FIG. 20 is a top view of the brake equalizer 148 according to theembodiment with a brake lever 49 pushed upward,

FIG. 21 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a motor 150 and agearbox 152 according to the embodiment,

FIG. 22 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the motor 150 and thegearbox 152 according to the embodiment with a clutch lever 210 pulledup,

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a dead man's brake 154 according to theembodiment, when seen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a rear wheel unit 14 according to theembodiment, when seen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 25 is a front view of the rear wheel unit 14 according to theembodiment,

FIG. 26 is a right side view of the rear wheel unit 14 according to theembodiment,

FIG. 27 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a center pin 230, a topplate 232, a bracket 234, and a lock mechanism 240 of a right caster 226according to the embodiment,

FIG. 28 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the bracket 234, a wheelshaft 236, and a right rear wheel 238 of the right caster 226 accordingto the embodiment,

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a support plate 244 of the lockmechanism 240 according to the embodiment, when seen fromupper-front-right side,

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the right caster 226 according to theembodiment with a lock pin 242 retained by a first retainer portion 244b, when seen from upper-front-left side,

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the right caster 226 according to theembodiment with the lock pin 242 retained by a second retainer portion244 c, when seen from upper-front-left side,

FIG. 32 is a top view of a right rear wheel 238 according to a variantwith the right rear wheel 238 obliquely collided with a bump S,

FIG. 33 is a top view of the right rear wheel 238 according to thevariant with the right rear wheel 238 facing the bump S,

FIG. 34 is a top view of a right rear wheel 238 according to theembodiment with the right rear wheel 238 obliquely collided with a bumpS,

FIG. 35 is a top view of the right rear wheel 238 according to theembodiment with the right rear wheel 238 facing the bump S,

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of a coupling site of a chassis frame 10and the rear wheel unit 14 according to the embodiment, when seen fromupper-rear-right side,

FIG. 37 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the coupling site of thechassis frame 10 and the rear wheel unit 14 according to the embodiment,

FIG. 38 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the chassis frame 10according to the embodiment with the rear wheel unit 14 pivoted,

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of the cart 2 according to the embodimentwith a first container unit 300 attached to the chassis unit 4, whenseen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of the cart 2 according to the embodimentwith the first container unit 300 attached to the chassis unit 4 and acontainer 302 lifted, when seen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of the first container unit 300 accordingto the embodiment with the container 302 lifted, when seen fromlower-rear-left side,

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of a right guard retaining portion 328according to the embodiment with a lower end of a support pipe 304 bbeing in contact with a support plate 328 c, when seen from upper-frontright side,

FIG. 43 is a perspective view of the right guard retaining portion 328according to the embodiment with a lower surface of a guard pipe 304 abeing in contact with an edge of the right guard retaining portion 328,when seen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of the cart 2 according to the embodimentwith the first container unit 300 attached to the chassis unit 4 and aright guard 304, a left guard 306, and a front guard 308 retained at alow position, when seen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 45 is a perspective view of the cart 2 according to the embodimentwith a second container unit 400 attached to the chassis unit 4, whenseen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of the cart 2 according to the embodimentwith the second container unit 400 attached to the chassis unit 4 and amovable support base 408 tilted relative to a fixed support base 412,when seen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of the cart 2 according to the embodimentwith the second container unit 400 attached to the chassis unit 4, themovable support base 408 tilted relative to the fixed support base 412,and a bucket support base 404 tilted relative to the movable supportbase 408, When seen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of the second container unit 400 accordingto the embodiment with the movable support base 408 tilted relative tothe fixed support base 412 and the bucket support base 404 tiltedrelative to the movable support base 408, when seen from upper-rear-leftside,

FIG. 49 is a perspective view of the cart 2 according to the embodimentwith a third container unit 500 attached to the chassis unit 4, whenseen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 50 is a perspective view of the cart 2 according to the embodimentwith the third container unit 500 attached to the chassis unit 4 and amovable support base 504 tilted relative to a fixed support base 508,when seen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 51 is a perspective view of the third container unit 500 accordingto the embodiment with the movable support base 504 tilted relative tothe fixed support base 508, when seen from upper-rear-left side,

FIG. 52 is a perspective view of the cart 2 according to the embodimentwith a fourth container unit 600 attached to the chassis unit 4, whenseen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 53 is a perspective view of the fourth container unit 600 accordingto the embodiment, when seen from lower-rear-right side,

FIG. 54 is a perspective view of the cart 2 according to the embodimentwith a fifth container unit 700 attached to the chassis unit 4, whenseen from upper-front-right side,

FIG. 55 is a perspective view of the fifth container unit 700 accordingto the embodiment, when seen from lower-rear-left side,

FIG. 56 is a top view of a brake equalizer 148 according to a variant,

FIG. 57 is a top view of a brake equalizer 148 according to anothervariant,

FIG. 58 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a motor 150 and agearbox 152 according to a variant,

FIG. 59 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the motor 150 and thegearbox 152 according to the variant with an inner cable 90 a of a deadman's cable 90 pushed out relative to an outer cable 90 b,

FIG. 60 is a top view of a right rear wheel 238 according to the variantwith the right rear wheel 238 pivoted such that a side surface thereofcontacts a bump S,

FIG. 61 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a bracket 234, a wheelshaft 236, and a right rear wheel 238 of a right caster 226 according toa variant,

FIG. 62 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship among adead man's lever 42, a first link member 84, and a second link member 86according to a variant, when they are seen from upper-rear-left side,

FIG. 63 is a right side view of an internal structure of a switch box 40according to the variant, and

FIG. 64 is a left side view of the internal structure of the switch box40 according to the variant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Representative, non-limiting examples of the present disclosure will nowbe described in further detail with reference to the attached drawings.This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skillin the art further details for practicing aspects of the presentteachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the presentdisclosure. Furthermore, each of the additional features and teachingsdisclosed below may be utilized separately or in conjunction with otherfeatures and teachings to provide improved handcarts, as well as methodsfor using and manufacturing the same.

Moreover, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the followingdetailed description may not be necessary to practice the presentdisclosure in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely toparticularly describe representative examples of the present disclosure,Furthermore, various features of the above-described and below-describedrepresentative examples, as well as the various independent anddependent claims, may be combined in ways that are not specifically andexplicitly enumerated in order to provide additional useful embodimentsof the present teachings.

All features disclosed in the description and/or the claims are intendedto be disclosed separately and independently from each other for thepurpose of original written disclosure, as well as for the purpose ofrestricting the claimed subject matter, independent of the compositionsof the features in the embodiments and/or the claims. In addition, allvalue ranges or indications of groups of entities are intended todisclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity forthe purpose of original written disclosure, as well as for the purposeof restricting the claimed subject matter.

In one or more embodiments, a handcart may comprise a drive wheel; aprime mover configured to rotate the drive wheel; a grip portionconfigured to be gripped by a user; and a visibly noticeable portionthat is clearly noticeable from behind the user when the user standsbehind the handcart, gripping the grip portion.

In this configuration, the visually noticeable portion can be visuallynoticed from behind the user even when the user stands behind thehandcart, gripping the grip portion. Thus, the configuration can informa person or a car coming from behind that transferring work is inprogress with the handcart.

In one or more embodiments, the visibly noticeable portion may includeat least one of a taillight configured to emit light and a reflectorconfigured to receive and reflect light.

This configuration can surely inform a person or a car coming frombehind that transferring work is in progress with the handcart, evenwhen the handcart is used outdoor at night and/or in bad weather or thehandcart is used indoor, for example, in a factory.

In one or more embodiments, the grip portion may include a gripextending in a front-rear direction. The visibly noticeable portion maybe disposed forward of a rear end of the grip.

In this configuration, when an object collides with the handcart frombehind it, the object collides with the rear end of the grip beforereaching the visibly noticeable portion. Thus, damage to the visiblynoticeable portion can be prevented.

In one or more embodiments, the handcart may further comprise a casingdisposed near the grip and an operation member supported by the casingand configured to be operable by the user with the user gripping thegrip. The prime mover may be configured to rotate the drive wheel whenthe operation member is operated by the user.

This configuration enables the user to perform an operation for drivingthe prime mover while the user grips the grip, thus it improvesconvenience for the user.

In one or more embodiments, the visibly noticeable portion may bedisposed on a rear surface of the casing.

This configuration can simplify the configuration of the handcart ascompared to a configuration in which the visibly noticeable portion isdisposed separately from the casing which supports the operation member.

In one or more embodiments, the handcart may further comprise an alarmsound button supported by the casing and configured to be operable bythe user with the user gripping the grip; and an alarm sound emitterconfigured to emit an alarm sound when the alarm sound button isoperated by the user.

This configuration can inform a person or a car that is present in otherdirections than behind the handcart that transferring work is inprogress with the handcart, by emitting the alarm sound from the alarmsound emitter. Further, the configuration enables the user to perform anoperation for emitting the alarm sound from the alarm sound emitterwhile the user grips the grip, thus it can improve the user'sconvenience.

In one or more embodiments, the prime mover may include a motor.

This configuration can suppress vibrations transmitted to a load on thehandcart as compared to a configuration in which an engine is used asthe prime mover.

In one or more embodiments, the handcart may further comprise a batterymounting portion to which a battery is detachably attached. The motormay be driven by electric power from the battery.

This configuration enables the motor to be supplied with the electricpower, without connecting the handcart with an external power supply viaa power cord.

EMBODIMENTS

A cart 2 of the present embodiment is a hand cart. The cart 2 isconfigured by a chassis unit 4 shown in FIG. 1 being removably attachedto one of a first container unit 300 shown in FIG. 39, a secondcontainer unit 400 shown in FIG. 45, a third container unit 500 shown inFIG. 49, a fourth container unit 600 shown in FIG. 52, and a fifthcontainer unit 700 shown in FIG. 54. In another embodiment, the cart 2may be configured by the chassis unit 4 being unremovably attached toone of the first container unit 300, the second container unit 400, thethird container unit 500, the fourth container unit 600, and the fifthcontainer unit 700. In the following description, one of the containerunits, among the first container unit 300, the second container unit400, the third container unit 500, the fourth container unit 600, andthe fifth container unit 700, that is attached to the chassis unit 4 maybe simply referred to as a container unit 800.

(Chassis Unit 4)

As shown in FIG. 1, the chassis unit 4 includes a handle unit 6, abattery box 8, a chassis frame 10, a front wheel unit 12, and a rearwheel unit 14.

(Handle Unit 6)

As shown in FIG. 2, the handle unit 6 includes a handle base 16, a righthandle 18, and a left handle 20. The handle base 16 includes a base pipe21, a right channel 22, a left channel 24, a rectangular pipe 26, a baseplate 28, a right attachment 30, and a left attachment 32. All of thebase pipe 21, the right channel 22, the left channel 24, the rectangularpipe 26, the base plate 28, the right attachment 30, and the leftattachment 32 are constituted of a steel material. A cross-sectionalshape of the base pipe 21 is substantially circular. The base pipe 21includes a central portion 21 a extending in a right-left direction, aright support portion 21 b bent downward from a right end of the centralportion 21 a, and a left support portion 21 c bent downward from a leftend of the central portion 21 a. The right channel 22 includes a web 22a extending along a front-rear direction and an up-down direction, afront flange 22 b bent leftward from a front end of the web 22 a, and arear flange 22 c bent leftward from a rear end of the web 22 a. Theright support portion 21 b of the base pipe 21 is welded to an upperportion of the right channel 22 on the left side thereof. The leftchannel 24 includes a web 24 a extending along the front-rear directionand the up-down direction, a front flange 24 b bent rightward from afront end of the web 24 a, and a rear flange 24 c bent rightward from arear end of the web 24 a. The left support portion 21 c of the base pipe21 is welded to an upper portion of the left channel 24 on the rightside thereof The rectangular pipe 26 extends in the right-leftdirection. A right end of the rectangular pipe 26 is welded to thevicinity of a center of the right channel 22 in the up-down direction onthe left side thereof. A left end of the rectangular pipe 26 is weldedto the vicinity of a center of the left channel 24 in the up-downdirection on the right side thereof The base plate 28 includes a wall 28a extending along the up-down direction and the right-left direction,and a floor 28 b bent rearward from a lower end of the wall 28 a. Anupper end of the wall 28 a is welded to a lower surface of the centralportion 21 a of the base pipe 21. A lower surface of the floor 28 b iswelded to an upper surface of the rectangular pipe 26. The rightattachment 30 is welded to a lower end of the right channel 22. The leftattachment 32 is welded to a lower end of the left channel 24. As shownin FIG. 1, the handle base 16 is fixed to the chassis frame 10 by theright attachment 30 being screwed to a frame plate 130 of the chassisframe 10 and the left attachment 32 being screwed to the frame plate 130of the chassis frame 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the right handle 18 includes a pipe 34, a channel36, a grip 38, a switch box 40, and a dead man's lever 42. The pipe 34and the channel 36 are both constituted of a steel material. The pipe 34includes a support portion 34 a extending in the up-down direction, anda handle portion 34 b bent rearward from an upper end of the supportportion 34 a. The channel 36 includes a web 36 a extending along thefront-rear direction and the up-down direction, a front flange 36 b bentrightward from a front end of the web 36 a, and a rear flange 36 c bentrightward from a rear end of the web 36 a. The pipe 34 is welded to thechannel 36 on the right side of the channel 36. The grip 38, the switchbox 40 and the dead man's lever 42 are attached to the handle portion 34b of the pipe 34.

The left handle 20 includes a pipe 44, a channel 46, a grip 48, and abrake lever 49. The pipe 44 and the channel 46 are both constituted of asteel material. The pipe 44 includes a support portion 44 a extending inthe up-down direction, and a handle portion 44 b bent rearward from anupper end of the support portion 44 a. The channel 46 includes a web 46a extending along the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, afront flange 46 b bent leftward from a front end of the web 46 a, and arear flange 46 c bent leftward from a rear end of the web 46 a. The pipe44 is welded to the channel 46 on the left side of the channel 46. Thegrip 48 and the brake lever 49 are attached to the handle portion 44 bof the pipe 44.

The right handle 18 is fixed to the handle base 16 via grip bolts 50 and52. The left handle 20 is fixed to the handle base 16 via grip bolts 54and 56. The grip bolts 50, 52, 54, and 56 respectively include heads 50a, 52 a, 54 a, and 56 a, and shafts 50 b, 52 b, 54 b, and 56 b. As shownin FIG. 3, through holes 22 d and 22 e are formed in the web 22 a of theright channel 22 of the handle base 16 such that the holes are arrangedalong the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 4, nuts 58 and 60 arewelded on a left surface of the web 22 a of the right channel 22 atpositions corresponding to the through holes 22 d and 22 e. Similarly,through holes 24 d and 24 e are formed in the web 24 a of the leftchannel 24 of the handle base 16 such that the through holes arearranged along the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 3, nuts 62 and 64are welded on a right surface of the web 24 a of the left channel 24 atpositions corresponding to the through holes 24 d and 24 e. As shown inFIG. 5, an elongated hole 36 d extending in the up-down direction isformed in the web 36 a of the channel 36 of the right handle 18. Asshown in FIG. 6, an elongated hole 46 d extending in the up-downdirection is formed in the web 46 a of the channel 46 of the left handle20.

As shown in FIG. 2, to fix the right handle 18 to the handle base 16,the shaft 50 b of the grip bolt 50 is inserted through the elongatedhole 36 d of the right handle 18 and the through hole 22 d of the handlebase 16 and then is screwed into the nut 58, and the shaft 52 b of thegrip bolt 52 is also inserted through the elongated hole 36 d of theright handle 18 and the through hole 22 e of the handle base 16 and thenis screwed into the nut 60. As a result, the channel 36 of the righthandle 18 and the right channel 22 of the handle base 16 are heldbetween the nuts 58, 60 and the heads 50 a, 52 a of the grip bolts 50,52, with a left surface of the web 36 a of the channel 36 of the righthandle 18 being in contact with a right surface of the web 22 a of theright channel 22 of the handle base 16. The right handle 18 is fixed tothe handle base 16 as above. In the following description, the gripbolts 50, 52 and the nuts 58, 60 may be collectively referred to as aright holder mechanism 51. Further, the grip bolt 52 and the nut 60 maybe referred to as a right rotation restricting mechanism 53. The rightrotation restricting mechanism 53 is configured to restrict rotation ofthe right handle 18 relative to the handle base 16 about the grip bolt50 as a rotation axis.

Similarly, to fix the left handle 20 to the handle base 16, the shaft 54b of the grip bolt 54 is inserted through the elongated hole 46 d of theleft handle 20 and the through hole 244 of the handle base 16 and thenis screwed into the nut 62, and the shaft 56 b of the grip bolt 56 isalso inserted through the elongated hole 46 d of the left handle 20 andthe through hole 24 e of the handle base 16 and then is screwed into thenut 64. As a result, the channel 46 of the left handle 20 and the leftchannel 24 of the handle base 16 are held between the nuts 62, 64 andthe heads 54 a, 56 a of the grip bolts 54 and 56, with a right surfaceof the web 46 a of the channel 46 of the left handle 20 being in contactwith a left surface of the web 24 a of the left channel 24 of the handlebase 16. The left handle 20 is fixed to the handle base 16 as above. Inthe following description, the grip bolts 54, 56 and the nuts 62, 64 maybe collectively referred to as a left holder mechanism 55. Further, thegrip bolt 56 and the nut 64 may be referred to as a left rotationrestricting mechanism 57. The left rotation restricting mechanism 57 isconfigured to restrict rotation of the left handle 20 relative to thehandle base 16 about the grip bolt 54 as a rotation axis.

The right handle 18 is configured to be movable in the up-down directionrelative to the handle base 16, with the grip bolts 50 and 52 loosened.Setting the right handle 18 to a desired position in the up-downdirection relative to the handle base 16 and then tightening the gripbolts 50, 52 enables the right handle 18 to be fixed at the desiredposition relative to the handle base 16. Similarly, the left handle 20is configured to be movable relative to the handle base 16, with thegrip bolts 54, 56 loosened. Setting the left handle 20 to a desiredposition in the up-down direction relative, to the handle base 16 andthen tightening the grip bolts 54, 56 enables the left handle 20 to befixed at the desired position relative to the handle base 16. If theright handle 18 is integrated with the left handle 20 and a position ofthe integrated handle is adjusted in the up-down direction relative tothe handle base 16, a large amount of labor is required for thepositional adjustment in the up-down direction relative to the handlebase 16 because the weight of the integration of the right handle 18 andthe left handle 20 is large. Contrary to this, in the cart 2 of thepresent embodiment, the right handle 18 and the left handle 20 areseparate components, and their positions in the up-down directionrelative to the handle base 16 can be adjusted individually. Thisarrangement can reduce an amount of labor required for the positionaladjustment in the up-down direction relative to the handle base 16because the individual weights of the right handle 18 and the lefthandle 20 are not so large.

As shown in FIG. 3, an elastic engagement piece 22 f that protrudesrightward is disposed on the web 22 a of the right channel 22 of thehandle base 16. As shown in FIG. 4, an elastic engagement piece 24 fthat protrudes leftward is disposed on the web 24 a of the left channel24 of the handle base 16. A position of the elastic engagement piece 22f of the right channel 22 and a position of the elastic engagement piece24 f of the left channel 24 are substantially the same in the up-downdirection. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of engagement holes 36 e isformed in the web 36 a of the channel 36 of the right handle 18,corresponding to the elastic engagement piece 22 f of the right channel22. The engagement holes 36 e are arranged at predetermined intervalsalong the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality ofengagement holes 46 e is formed in the web 46 a of the channel 46 of theleft handle 20, corresponding to the elastic engagement piece 24 f ofthe left channel 24. The engagement holes 46 e are arranged atpredetermined intervals along the up-down direction. Positions of theengagement holes 36 e of the right handle 18 and positions of thecorresponding engagement holes 46 e of the left handle 20 aresubstantially the same in the up-down direction. The right handle 18 canbe fixed to the handle base 16, with the elastic engagement piece 22 finserted in one of the engagement holes 36 e. Similarly, the left handle20 can be fixed to the handle base 16, with the elastic engagement piece24 f inserted in one of the engagement holes 46 e. Inserting the elasticengagement piece 22 f to one of the engagement holes 36 e and insertingthe elastic engagement piece 24 f to the corresponding one of theengagement holes 46 e enables the right handle 18 and the left handle 20to be fixed to the handle base 16 at the substantially same position inthe up-down direction. For example, both the right handle 18 and theleft handle 20 can be fixed at a lowest position relative to the handlebase 16 as shown in FIG. 1 by fixing the right handle 18 to the handlebase 16 with the elastic engagement piece 22 f inserted in the uppermostone of the engagement holes 36 e and fixing the left handle 20 to thehandle base 16 with the elastic engagement piece 24 f inserted in theuppermost one of the engagement holes 46 e. Alternatively, both theright handle 18 and the left handle 20 can be fixed at a highestposition relative to the handle base 16 as shown in FIG. 7 by fixing theright handle 18 to the handle base 16 with the elastic engagement piece22 f inserted in the lowermost one of the engagement holes 36 e andfixing the left handle 20 to the handle base 16 with the elasticengagement piece 24 f inserted in the lowermost one of the engagementholes 46 e. Hereinafter, the elastic engagement piece 22 f and theplurality of engagement holes 36 e may be collectively referred to as aright positioning mechanism 23, and the elastic engagement piece 24 fand the plurality of engagement holes 46 e may be collectively referredto as a left positioning mechanism 25.

The right handle 18 can also be fixed to the handle base 16 bytightening the grip bolts 50 and 52 with the elastic engagement piece 22f not inserted in any of the engagement holes 36 e. In this case, theelastic engagement piece 22 f is pressed by the web 36 a of the channel36 and is maintained in a leftward elastically deformed state.Similarly, the left handle 20 can also be fixed to the handle base 16 bytightening the grip bolts 54 and 56 with the elastic engagement piece 24f not inserted in any of the engagement holes 46 e, In this case, theelastic engagement piece 24 f is pressed by the web 46 a of the channel46 and is maintained in a rightward elastically deformed state.

In another embodiment, the handle portion 34 b of the right handle 18may be bent rightward or leftward from the upper end of the supportportion 34 a, and the handle portion 44 b of the left handle 20 may bebent rightward or leftward from the upper end of the support portion 44a. In yet another embodiment, the right handle 18 and the left handle 20may be integrated, such as a U-shaped handle.

(Right Handle 18)

As shown in FIG. 5, in the right handle 18, the switch box 40 isdisposed frontward of the grip 38. Further, the dead man's lever 42 isdisposed above the grip 38.

The switch box 40 includes a casing 66, an operation panel 68, an alarmsound button 70, an operation lever 72, and a taillight 74. The casing66 is a resin member. The operation panel 68 is disposed on an uppersurface of the casing 66. The operation panel 68 includes a main powerbutton 68 a, a main power indicator lamp 68 b, a forward/backward modeswitching button 68 c, a forward mode indicator lamp 68 d, a backwardmode indicator lamp 68 e, a speed switching button 68 f, and a speedindicator 68 g. The main power button 68 a is a button for the user toswitch on and off of a main power of the cart 2. The main powerindicator lamp 68 b turns on when the main power of the cart 2 is turnedon, and turns off when the main power of the cart 2 is turned off. Theforward/backward mode switching button 68 c is a button for the user toswitch a forward mode and a backward mode of the cart 2. In the forwardmode, the cart 2 actuates a motor 150 (which will be described later,see FIG. 1) to rotate a right front wheel 140 and a left front wheel 142(which will be described later, see FIG. 1) in a forward direction,while in the backward mode, the cart 2 actuates the motor 150 to rotatethe right front wheel 140 and the left front wheel 142 in the reversedirection. The forward mode indicator lamp 68 d turns on when the cart 2operates in the forward mode, and turns off when the cart 2 operates inthe backward mode. The backward mode indicator lamp 68 e turns on whenthe cart 2 operates in the backward mode, and turns off when the cart 2operates in the forward mode. The speed switching button 68 f is abutton for the user to switch a traveling speed of the cart 2. In thecart 2 of the present embodiment, the traveling speed can be switched inmultiple levels (e.g., in three levels). The cart 2 controls arotational speed of the motor 150 when actuating the motor 150 inaccordance with the traveling speed set by the speed switching button 68f. The speed indicator 68 g changes the number of lit windows accordingto the traveling speed of the cart 2 set by the speed switching button68 f. As shown in FIG. 8, an operation board 76 is disposed inside thecasing 66 and below the operation panel 68. The operation board 76includes switches (not shown) configured to detect user's operations onthe main power button 68 a, the forward/backward mode switching button68 c, and the speed switching button 68 f, LEDs (not shown) configuredto turn on/turn off the main power indicator lamp 68 b, the forward modeindicator lamp 68 d, the backward mode indicator lamp 68 e, and thespeed indicator 68 g, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 5, the alarm sound button 70 is disposed on a sidesurface of the casing 66 and leftward of the operation panel 68. Thealarm sound button 70 is a button for the user to activate a buzzer 124(which will be described later, see FIG. 13). When the user operates thealarm sound button 70, the cart 2 activates the buzzer 124 to cause itto emit an alarming sound. If the cart 2 includes a speaker (not shown)other than the buzzer 124, the cart 2 may be configured to output apredetermined music or sound from the speaker in response to the user'soperation on the alarm sound button 70.

The operation lever 72 is a resin member. As shown in FIG. 8, theoperation lever 72 includes a support portion 72 a, an operation piece72 b, and a detection piece 72 c. The support portion 72 a, theoperation piece 72 b, and the detection piece 72 c are integrated witheach other. The support portion 72 a and the detection piece 72 c arehoused in the casing 66. The operation. piece 72 b protrudes from theinside of the casing 66 to the outside thereof through an opening 66 aformed in a rear surface of the casing 66. The support portion 72 a ispivotably supported with respect to the casing 66 around a pivot axis 72d extending in the right-left direction. An actuation switch 78 ishoused in the casing 66 near the detection piece 72 c. When theoperation piece 72 b is pushed upward by the user, the operation piece72 b, the support portion 72 a, and the detection piece 72 c are therebyintegrally pivoted about the pivot axis 72 d, and the actuation switch78 is pressed by the detection piece 72 c as shown in FIG. 9. The casing66 also houses a compression spring (not shown) configured to apply atorque in a direction along which the operation piece 72 b movesdownward to the operation lever 72. When the user releases the hand fromthe operation piece 72 b, the operation piece 72 b, the support portion72 a, and the detection piece 72 c are integrally pivoted about thepivot axis 72 d by the biasing force of the compression spring, and thedetection piece 72 c is separated from the actuation switch 78 as Shownin FIG. 8. Around the operation piece 72 b, the opening 66 a of thecasing 66 is covered by a bellows cover 80. The bellows cover 80prevents foreign matter from entering the inside of the casing 66 fromthe outside thereof through the opening 66 a.

The operation panel 68 is located on the upper surface of the casing 66.The alarm sound button 70 is located on a side surface of the casing 66.Further, the operation lever 72 is located rearward of the casing 66.This arrangement enables the user to operate the operation panel 68, thealarm sound button 70, and the operation lever 72 by his/her fingers ofthe right hand while gripping the grip 38 with the right hand.

The taillight 74 is disposed on a rear surface of the casing 66 andbelow the operation lever 72. The taillight 74 is turned on when a rightheadlight 156 and a left headlight 158 (which will be described later)are turned on, and is turned off when these lights are turned off. Thetaillight 74 is configured to emit light toward an area behind the cart2 and serves as a visibly noticeable portion that can be clearly seen.As shown in FIG. 8, a taillight board 82 is disposed in the casing 66and frontward of the taillight 74. The taillight board 82 includes anLED (not shown) configured to turn on/off the taillight 74 and the like.The taillight 74 may be turned on/off by a surface-emitting LED, forexample. For example, when the cart 2 collides with an object locatedbehind while traveling backward, the grip 38 collides with the objectbefore the object reaches the taillight 74 because the taillight 74 islocated frontward of the grip 38, thus the taillight 74 can be preventedfrom colliding with an object and getting damaged.

From a safety perspective for workers at night, the taillight 74 isdesirable to be bright enough such that the lighting of the taillight 74can be visually recognized at night from a point that is a distance of100 m rearward apart from the taillight 74. Further, the color of lightemitted by the taillight 74 is desirably a color including red,specifically, orange, red, or the like. For example, if an LED is used,the lamp brightness that can be visually recognized at night from apoint the distance of 100 m rearward apart may satisfy the standard forbike taillights specified in JISC9502 (in particular, the standard forbrightness and/or color of beam of taillights).

The cart 2 may be configured to turn on the taillight 74 in conjunctionwith the activation of the cart 2. The cart 2 may maintain the light ofthe taillight 74 constantly, and/or may cause it to blink. For example,the cart 2 may be configured to maintain the light of the taillight 74constantly during normal operation and cause it to blink when anacceleration sensor (not shown) or the like detects deceleration of thecart 2. Alternatively, the cart 2 may be configured to cause the lightof the taillight 74 to blink during normal operation and maintain itconstantly when an optical sensor (not shown) or the like detects thatthe environment gets dark. Further, the actuation of the motor 150 maybe detected by a vibration sensor (not shown) or the like, and the cart2 may be configured to maintain the light of the taillight 74 constantlywhen the environment gets dark and the motor 150 is actuated.Alternatively, the cart 2 may be configured to continue power supply tothe taillight 74 while stopping power supply to the motor 150 and/or thecontainer unit 800, when a remaining charge of battery packs 112 (whichwill be described later, see FIG. 14) is small.

The cart 2 may include a reflector (not shown) on the rear surface ofthe casing 66, instead of the taillight 74. The reflector emit lighttoward an area behind the cart 2 by receiving light and reflecting it,and serves as a visibly noticeable portion that can be clearly seen. Thereflector may comprise a retroreflective material. When irradiated withlight from a car headlight or the like at night, the reflector desirablyprovides reflected light that can be visually recognized from 100 mbehind. The color of the light reflected by the reflector is desirably acolor including red, specifically, an orange, red, or the like.Alternatively, a combination of the taillight 74 and the reflector maybe used to further improve the visibility from behind. In this case, thetaillight 74 may be integrated with the reflector.

As shown in FIG. 10, in a rear plan view of the chassis unit 4, adistance D from a center of the chassis unit 4 in the right-leftdirection to a center of the taillight 74 in the right-left direction is150 mm or more, preferably 200 mm or more, and is, for example, about250 mm. For example, when the distance D is 150 mm or more, a distancebetween the right handle 18 and the left handle 20 is 300 mm or more,which is larger than a waist width of a standard adult. When thedistance D is 200 mm or more, the distance between the right handle 18and the left handle 20 is 400 mm or more, which is larger than ashoulder width of the standard adult. The distance D is selectable withthe aforementioned standard waist width and shoulder width as itsreference, considering the posture of a worker based on the shapes ofthe right handle 18 and the left handle 20. With this configuration,even when the user is standing behind the cart 2 while gripping theright handle 18 and the left handle 20, the taillight 74 is not blockedby the user's body and the taillight 74 can be visually recognized frombehind the user. The center of the chassis unit 4 in the right-leftdirection may be any position corresponding to a center of the user'sbody in the right-left direction when the user is standing behind thecart 2 while gripping the right handle 18 and the left handle 20. Forexample, the center of the chassis unit 4 in the right-left directionmay be: a middle position between a center of a right front wheel 140 inthe right-left direction and a center of a left front wheel 142 in theright-left direction; a middle position between a center of a right rearwheel 238 in the right-left direction and a center of a left rear wheel258 in the right-left direction; a center position of the handle unit 6in the right-left direction; or a middle position between a center ofthe grip 38 of the right handle 18 in the right-left direction and acenter of the grip 48 of the left handle 20 in the right-left direction.The taillight 74 may be disposed at any position on the chassis unit 4other than the switch box 40, as long as the position is visuallyrecognizable from behind the user when the user is standing behind thecart 2 while gripping the right handle 18 and the left handle 20. Forexample, the taillight 74 may be disposed at the right channel 22 or theleft channel 24 of the handle base 16. Alternatively, the taillight 74may be disposed at the channel 36 of the right handle 18 or on a rearend surface of the grip 38. Alternatively, the taillight 74 may bedisposed at the channel 46 of the left handle 20 or on a rear endsurface of the grip 48. Alternatively, the taillight 74 may be disposednear the right rear wheel 238 or near the left rear wheel 258 in a rearwheel frame 225 of the rear wheel unit 14 (which will be describedlater). Even if the taillight 74 is disposed at any of these positions,the light of the taillight 74 is desirably visually recognizable atnight from 100 m behind.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the casing 66 further houses a first linkmember 84, a second link member 86, and a dead man's switch 88. Thefirst link member 84 is slidably supported by the casing 66 such that itcan slide in a predetermined sliding direction (see arrows in FIGS. 8and 9). As shown in FIG. 11, the first link member 84 includes a supportbeam 84 a that extends substantially linearly from its upper end tolower end, an auxiliary beam 84 b that extends rightward from anintermediate part of the support beam 84 a and then bends upward, and apin 84 c that extends rightward from a lower end of the support beam 84a. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the support beam 84 a is located leftwardof the operation lever 72 and extends from an upper portion to a lowerportion inside the casing 66. The auxiliary beam 84 b has a shape thatdoes not interfere with the grip 38 and the operation lever 72 which arerespectively located in an upper area and in a lower area within amovable range of the first link member 84. The second link member 86 ispivotably supported by the casing 66 such that it can pivot about apivot axis 86 a extending in the right-left direction. An elongated hole86 b is formed at a rear end of the second link member 86. The pin 84 cof the first link member 84 is in the elongated hole 86 b of the secondlink member 86. When the first link member 84 slides in the slidingdirection, the pin 84 c presses a side wall of the elongated hole 86 bwhile sliding along the side wall of the elongated hole 86 b, whichpivots the second link member 86 around the pivot axis 86 a. The deadman's switch 88 is located to face a projection 86 c disposed on thesecond link member 86. When the second link member 86 is pivoted suchthat the rear end of the second link member 86 is moved upward, theprojection 86 c presses the dead man's switch 88, whereas when thesecond link member 86 is pivoted such that the rear end of the secondlink member 86 is moved downward, the projection 86 c is separated fromthe dead man's switch 88. The second link member 86 is biased in apivoting direction along which the rear end is moved upward by a torsionspring (not shown). A cable holder 86 d is disposed at a front end ofthe second link member 86. A dead man's cable 90 is inserted to a frontlower portion of the casing 66. The dead man's cable 90 includes aninner cable 90 a and an outer cable 90 b covering the periphery of theinner cable 90 a. The outer cable 90 b is supported by the casing 66.The inner cable 90 a is supported by the cable holder 86 d.

As shown in FIG. 5, the dead man's lever 42 has a shape that extendsalong an upper surface of the grip 38. The dead man's lever 42 is aresin member. A rear end of the dead man's lever 42 is pivotablysupported at a rear end of the grip 38 via a pivot axis 42 a extendingin the right-left direction. A front end of the dead man's lever 42 isslidably supported on an upper end of the first link member 84.

When the user grips the grip 38, the dead man's lever 42 is pusheddownward by the user's palm. This moves the first link member 84downward along the sliding direction and pivots the second link member86 in a pivoting direction such that the rear end thereof is moveddownward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the inner cable 90 a of thedead man's cable 90 is relatively pulled out from the outer cable 90 b.Further, the projection 86 c of the second link member 86 is separatedfrom the dead man's switch 88. When the user releases his/her hand fromthe grip 38 in this state, the biasing force of the torsion springcauses the second link member 86 to pivot such that the rear end ismoved upward and the first link member 84 is thereby moved upward alongthe sliding direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the inner cable90 a of the dead man's cable 90 is relatively pushed into the outercable 90 b. Further, the projection 86 c of the second link member 86presses the dead man's switch 88. Furthermore, the front end of the deadman's lever 42 is pushed upward.

The first link member 84 and the second link member 86 may be configuredas shown in FIG. 62. In the configuration shown in FIG. 62, the pin 84 cof the first link member 84 extends leftward from the lower end of thesupport beam 84 a. Further, the first link member 84 includes a roller84 d that is rotatably supported by the pin 84 c and a block 84 e thatprotrudes rightward from the lower end of the support beam 84 a. in theconfiguration shown in FIG. 62, the elongated hole 86 b and theprojection 86 c are not disposed on the second link member 86. In thevicinity of the rear end of the second link member 86, the roller 84 dof the first link member 84 is in contact with an upper surface of thesecond link member 86.

In a configuration using the first link member 84 and the second linkmember 86 shown in FIG. 62, the internal space of the casing 66 ispartitioned by an inner wall 66 b into a left space and a right space asshown in FIGS. 63 and 64. An elongated hole 66 c is formed in the innerwall 66 b. A longitudinal direction of the elongated hole 66 c is alongthe sliding direction of the first link member 84. As shown in FIG. 63,the support beam 84 a and the block 84 e of the first link member 84 andthe dead man's switch 88 are disposed in the right space which islocated on the right side relative to the inner wall 66 b. The pin 84 cof the first link member 84 passes through the elongated hole 66 c. Asshown in FIG. 64, the roller 84 d of the first link member 84, thesecond link member 86, and the dead man's cable 90 are disposed in theleft space located on the left side relative to the inner wall 66 b.

In the configuration shown in FIGS. 62 to 64, when the dead man's lever42 is pushed downward by the user, the first link member 84 is moveddownward along the sliding direction and the roller 84 d presses theupper surface of the second link member 86 near the rear end thereofwhile rolling thereon. This pivots the second link member 86 about thepivot axis 86 a and moves the front end of the second link member 86upward, as a result of which the inner cable 90 a of the dead man'scable 90 is relatively pulled out from the outer cable 90 b. Further,when the first link member 84 is moved downward along the slidingdirection, the block 84 e of the first link member 84 presses the deadman's switch 88. When the user releases his/her hand from the dead man'slever 42 in this state, the biasing force of the torsion spring (notshown) causes the second link member 86 to pivot in the pivotingdirection such that its front end is moved downward and its rear end ismoved upward. As a result, the inner cable 90 a of the dead man's cable90 is relatively pushed into the outer cable 90 b. Further, when theroller 84 d is pushed upward by the upper surface of the second linkmember 86, the first link member 84 is moved upward along the slidingdirection and the block 84 e of the first link member 84 is separatedfrom the dead man's switch 88. Furthermore, the front end of the deadman's lever 42 is pushed upward.

A signal cable 92 is inserted into the front lower portion of the casing66. Wires extending from the operation hoard 76, the alarm sound button70, the actuation switch 78, the taillight board 82, and the dead man'sswitch 88 in the casing 66 are drawn out of the casing 66 through thesignal cable 92.

(Left Handle 20)

As shown in FIG. 4, in the left handle 20, a brake cable 94 is connectedto the brake lever 49. The brake cable 94 includes an inner cable 94 aand an outer cable 94 b coveting the periphery of the inner cable 94 a.The brake lever 49 is pushed downward by a biasing force of a torsionspring (not shown). When the user pushes the brake lever 49 upward, theinner cable 94 a of the brake cable 94 is relatively pulled out from theouter cable 94 b, When the user releases his/her hand from the brakelever 49, the brake lever 49 is pushed downward by the biasing force ofthe torsion spring and the inner cable 94 a of the brake cable 94 isrelatively pushed into the outer cable 94 b.

(Battery Box 8)

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the battery box 8 includes a casing 100, atop cover 102, a front cover 104, and a battery cover 106. The casing100, the top cover 102, the front cover 104, and the battery cover 106are constituted of resin. The casing 100 has a box shape. The top cover102 is attached to an upper surface of the casing 100. The top cover 102has a substantially flat plate shape and is inclined downward from thefront toward rear. The front cover 104 is attached to a front surface ofthe casing 100. The front cover 104 has a substantially flat plate shapeand is substantially perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Thebattery box 8 is fixed to the handle unit 6 by screwing the front cover104 to the wall 28 a (see FIG. 2) of the base plate 28 with the batterybox 8 placed on the floor 28 b (see FIG. 2) of the base plate 28 of thehandle unit 6.

As shown in FIG. 14, a control board 108 is housed in the casing 100.Further, a plurality of battery mounting portions 110 is disposed on arear surface of the casing 100. A plurality of battery packs 112 isdetachably attached to the plurality of battery mounting portions 110.The battery packs 112 each include, for example, a secondary batterycell such as a lithium ion battery cell (not shown) and are configuredto be charged by a charger (not shown). Each of the battery packs 112has, for example, a rated voltage of 18V and a rated capacity of 6.0 Ah.The battery packs 112 can be also used in an electric device other thanthe cart 2, for example, in an electric power tool such as electricdriver, or an electric working machine such as electric mower. As shownin FIG. 15, in the cart 2 of the present embodiment, the plurality ofbattery packs 112 (e.g., four battery packs 112) is grouped intofirst-group battery packs 112 a (e.g., two battery packs on the left)and second-group battery packs 112 b (e.g., two battery packs on theright). The cart 2 of the present embodiment is switchable between astate in which the cart 2 uses the first-group battery packs 112 aconnected in series as the power source and a state in which the cart 2uses the second-group battery packs 112 b connected in series as thepower source.

As shown in FIG. 12, the battery cover 106 is attached to the casing 100via a hinge 106 a disposed at an upper end of the battery cover 106. Thebattery cover 106 is pivotable relative to the casing 100 about a pivotaxis 106 b extending in the right-left direction. As shown in FIGS. 12and 13, the battery cover 106 includes an upper inclined surface 106 cthat is inclined downward from the front to rear, a lower inclinedsurface 106 d that is continuous from the upper inclined surface 106 cand is inclined downward from the rear to front, a bottom surface 106 ethat is continuous from the lower inclined surface 106 d and issubstantially perpendicular to the up-down direction, a right sidesurface 106 f that connects right ends of the upper inclined surface 106c, the lower inclined surface 106 d, and the bottom surface 106 e, and aleft side surface 106 g that connects left ends of the upper inclinedsurface 106 c, the lower inclined surface 106 d, and the bottom surface106 e. A recessed surface 106 h which is recessed toward the front isdisposed at an upper portion of the upper inclined surface 106 c, andthe hinge 106 a is disposed on the recessed surface 106 h. As shown inFIG. 14, the battery cover 106 covers the periphery of the plurality ofbattery packs 112 attached to the battery mounting portions 110 when thebattery cover 106 is closed with respect to the casing 100. In thisstate, an upper surface of the top cover 102 and an upper surface of thebattery cover 106 are inclined relative to a horizontal surface. Thus,even when water adheres to the upper surface of the top cover 102 and/orthe upper surface of the battery cover 106, the water travels along theupper surface of the top cover 102 and/or the upper surface of thebattery cover 106 and then drops downward from the battery box 8.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, when the battery cover 106 is open withrespect to the casing 100, the battery packs 112 can be removed orattached with respect to the battery mounting portions 110 by being slidin a predetermined sliding direction (see an arrow in FIG. 16). When thebattery cover 106 is open with respect to the casing 100, the batterycover 106 is located at a position that does not interfere with thesliding of the battery packs 112. Thus, the opened battery cover 106does not interfere with the attachment or detachment of the batterypacks 112.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the pivot axis 106 b of the battery cover106 is located below the top cover 102, and a rear end of the top cover102 extends rearward beyond the pivot axis 106 b. Thus, as shown in FIG.14, in a top view of the battery box 8 with the battery cover 106 closedwith respect to the casing 100, the battery cover 106 and the top cover102 partially overlap with each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, inthe top view of the battery box 8 with the battery cover 106 opened withrespect to the casing 100, the battery cover 106 and the top cover 102partially overlap with each other. Even though water adheres to an outersurface of the top cover 102 and/or an outer surface of the batterycover 106, such a configuration can prevent the water from dripping ontothe battery packs 112 attached to the battery mounting portions 110. Aneaves 102 a overhanging the hinge 106 a is disposed at a positioncorrespond to the hinge 106 a in the rear end of the top cover 102. Thiscan suppress water droplets from adhering to the hinge 106 a andaffecting the pivoting of the battery cover 106.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a water tray 110 b surrounded by a sidewall 110 a is disposed on upper surfaces of the battery mountingportions 110. Thus, even if water drops onto the upper surfaces of thebattery mounting portions 110, the water is suppressed from reaching thebattery packs 112 attached to the battery mounting portions 110.

As shown in FIG. 15, a sealing member 114 may be attached to the rearsurface of the casing 100. The sealing member 114 is, for example, arubber O-ring and is disposed around the plurality of battery mountingportions 110. A rib 116 is disposed on an inner surface of the batterycover 106, corresponding to the sealing member 114. When the batterycover 106 is closed with respect to the casing 100, the rib 116 contactsand presses the sealing member 114. This prevents water from enteringthe inside of the battery cover 106 while the battery cover 106 isclosed with respect to the casing 100.

The battery cover 106 is biased by a torsion spring (not shown) in adirection that closes the battery cover 106 with respect to the casing100. In the cart 2, the gravity on the battery cover 106 acts as a forcein the direction that closes the battery cover 106 with respect to thecasing 100. A member 118, which is configured to be operable by theuser, is disposed on the battery cover 106. The latch member 118 cankeep the battery cover 106 closed by engaging with a latch receiver 100a disposed in a lower portion of the casing 100 when the battery cover106 is closed.

As shown in FIG. 12, an operation panel 120 is disposed on the top cover102. The operation panel 120 includes a battery remaining chargeindicator 120 a, a power supply switching knob 120 b, a lighting button120 c, a display switching button 120 d, and a container operationswitch 120 e. The battery remaining charge indicator 120 a correspondsto the plurality battery packs 112 attached to the plurality of batterymounting portions 110 and changes the number of lighted windowsaccording to battery remaining charge of the plurality of battery packs112 attached to the plurality of battery mounting portions 110. Thepower supply switching knob 120 b is a knob for the user to switch thepower supply of the cart 2 between the first-group battery packs 112 aand the second-group battery packs 112 b. The lighting button 120 c is abutton for the user to switch on/off of a right headlight 156 and a leftheadlight 158, which will be described later. The display switchingbutton 120 d is a button for the user to switch on/off of the display ofbattery remaining charge by the battery remaining charge indicator 120a. The container operation switch 120 e is, for example, a momentaryrocker switch and is a switch for accepting user's operations to thecontainer unit 800. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, an operation board (notshown) and a power supply switching switch 122 are housed in the casing100 below the operation panel 120. The operation board includes an LED(not shown) for lighting/un-lighting the battery remaining chargeindicator 120 a and switches (not shown) for detecting user's operationsto the lighting button 120 c and the display switching button 120 d. Thepower supply switching switch 122 is configured to detect a user'soperation to the power supply switching knob 120 b.

As shown in FIG. 13, a buzzer 124 is disposed in an upper right portionof the front cover 104. The buzzer 124 is configured to emit an alarmsound when activated by the user pressing the alarm sound button 70 ofthe right handle 18. A signal cable 92 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) connectingthe switch box 40 to the battery box 8, a power supply cable 156 a (seeFIG. 17) connecting the battery box 8 to the right headlight 156 and theleft headlight 158 (see FIG. 17), a power cable (not shown) connectingthe battery box 8 to a motor 150, and a power cable (not shown)connecting the battery box 8 to the container unit 800 are inserted intoa bottom surface of the casing 100.

As shown in FIG. 15, a key attachment 128 that is configured todetachably attach a key 126 thereto is disposed on the rear surface ofthe casing 100. Attachment/detachment of the key 126 to/from the keyattachment 128 is realized by inserting/removing the key 126 to/from thekey attachment 128. Supply of electric power from the battery packs 112to the motor 150 (which will be described later) is cut off when the key126 is removed from the key attachment 128. Supply of electric powerfrom the battery packs 112 to the motor 150 is allowed when the key 126is attached to the key attachment 128.

(Chassis Frame 10)

As shown in FIG. 1, the chassis frame 10 includes the frame plate 130, aright frame pipe 132, a left frame pipe 134, and a central frame pipe136. All of the frame plate 130, the right frame pipe 132, the leftframe pipe 134, and the central frame pipe 136 are constituted of asteel material. The frame plate 130 includes a floor plate 130 a havinga substantially rectangular shape where its long side is along theright-left direction and its short side is along the front-reardirection, a front flange 130 b that is bent downward from a front endof the floor plate 130 a, and a rear flange 130 c that is bent downwardfrom a rear end of the floor plate 130 a (see FIGS. 36 and 38). On alower surface of the frame plate 130, multiple reinforcing ribs (notshown) are arranged along the front-rear direction and the right-leftdirection between the front flange 130 b and the rear flange 130 c. Therear wheel unit 14 is attached to the frame plate 130. Rear ends of theright frame pipe 132 and the left frame pipe 134 are welded to the frameplate 130, and the right frame pipe 132 and the left frame pipe 134extend forward. An interval between the right frame pipe 132 and theleft frame pipe 134 increases from the rear to the front. Front ends ofthe left frame pipe 134 and the right frame pipe 132 are attached to thefront wheel unit 12. The central frame pipe 136 is disposed in thevicinity of the front wheel unit 12, a right end thereof is welded tothe right frame pipe 132, and a left end thereof is welded to the leftframe pipe 134. The power supply cable 156 a (see FIG. 17) connectingthe right headlight 156 and the left headlight 158 to the battery box 8and a cable cover 138 that protects a power cable (not shown) connectingthe battery box 8 to the motor 150 are attached to the right frame pipe132.

(Front Wheel Unit 12)

As shown in FIG. 17, the front wheel unit 12 includes a right frontwheel 140, a left front wheel 142, a right front wheel brake 144, a leftfront wheel brake 146, a brake equalizer 148, the motor 150, a gearbox152, a dead man's brake 154, the right headlight 156, and the leftheadlight 158. The right front wheel 140 is connected to the gearbox 152via a right drive shaft. 160 (see FIGS. 21 and 22). The right driveshaft 160 extends in a right axle case 162 along the right-leftdirection and is rotatably supported by the right axle case 162 via abearing (not shown). The right axle case 162 is held by the right framepipe 132 via a right bracket 164 welded to the right frame pipe 132. Theleft front wheel 142 is connected to the gearbox 152 via a left driveshaft 166 (see FIGS. 21 and 22). The left drive shaft 166 extends in aleft axle case 168 along the right-left direction and is rotatablysupported by the left axle case 168 via a bearing (not shown). The leftaxle case 168 is held by the left frame pipe 134 via a left bracket 170welded to the left frame pipe 134. All of the right axle case 162, theright bracket 164, the left axle case 168, and the left bracket 170 areconstituted of a steel material.

The right front wheel brake 144 includes a disk rotor 172 and a brakecaliper 174. The disk rotor 172 is disposed leftward of the right frontwheel 140 and is fixed to the right front wheel 140 via a hub 140 a. Thebrake caliper 174 is disposed corresponding to the disk rotor 172. Thebrake caliper 174 is held by the right bracket 164. A right brake cable176 is connected to the brake caliper 174. The right brake cable 176includes an inner cable 176 a and an outer cable 176 b covering theperiphery of the inner cable 176 a. When the inner cable 176 a of theright brake cable 176 is relatively pulled into the outer cable 176 b,the brake caliper 174 has a pair of brake pads (not shown) sandwichingthe vicinity of outer edge of the disk rotor 172, which applies africtional force to the disk rotor 172 to brake the right front wheel140. When the inner cable 176 a of the right brake cable 176 isrelatively pushed out from the outer cable 176 b, the pair of brake padsis separated from the disk rotor 172 and the braking on the right frontwheel 140 is thereby released. The right front wheel brake 144 may be aso-called disk brake as described above, or may be another type of brakesuch as a drum brake or a band brake.

The left front wheel brake 146 includes a disk rotor 178 and a brakecaliper 180. The disk rotor 178 is disposed rightward of the left frontwheel 142 and is fixed to the left front wheel 142 via a hub 142 a. Thebrake caliper 180 is disposed corresponding to the disk rotor 178. Thebrake caliper 180 is held by the left bracket 170. A left brake cable182 is connected to the brake caliper 180. The left brake cable 182includes an inner cable 182 a and an outer cable 182 b covering theperiphery of the inner cable 182 a. When the inner cable 182 a of theleft brake cable 182 is relatively pulled into the outer cable 182 b,the brake caliper 180 has a pair of brake pads (not shown) sandwichingthe vicinity of outer edge of the disk rotor 178, which applies africtional force to the disk rotor 178 to brake the left front wheel142. When the inner cable 182 a of the left brake cable 182 isrelatively pushed out from the outer cable 182 b, the pair of brake padsis separated from the disk rotor 178 and the braking on the left frontwheel 142 is thereby released. The left front wheel brake 146 may be aso-called disk brake as described above, or may be another type ofbrake, such as a drum brake or a band brake.

(Brake Equalizer 148)

As shown in FIG. 18, the brake equalizer 148 includes a central bracket184, a first link member 186, and a second link member 188. The centralbracket 184 is constituted of a steel material, and the first linkmember 186 and the second link member 188 are both constituted of analuminum material. The central bracket 184 is welded to the vicinity ofthe center of the central frame pipe 136. The first link member 186 andthe second link member 188 are pivotably supported by the centralbracket 184 via a pivot axis 190 extending in the up-down direction. Thefirst link member 186 includes an input arm 186 a extending rightwardand forward from the pivot axis 190 and an output arm 186 b extendingrightward and rearward from the pivot axis 190. A distal end of theinput arm 186 a is connected to the inner cable 94 a of the brake cable94 extending from the brake lever 49 of the left handle 20. A distal endof the output arm 186 b is connected to the inner cable 176 a of theright brake cable 176. The second link member 188 includes an input arm188 a extending rightward and forward from the pivot axis 190 and anoutput arm 188 b extending leftward and rearward from the pivot axis190. A distal end of the input arm 188 a is connected to the outer cable94 b of the brake cable 94 extending from the brake lever 49 of the lefthandle 20. A distal end of the output arm 188 b is connected to theinner cable 182 a of the left brake cable 182. The outer cable 176 b ofthe right brake cable 176 and the outer cable 182 b of the left brakecable 182 are both fixed to the central bracket 184. In anotherembodiment, the first link member 186 and the second link member 188 maybe pivotably supported by the central bracket 184 via a pivot axisextending in the right-left direction or in the front-rear direction.

A distance from the pivot axis 190 to the distal end of the input arm186 a, a distance from the pivot axis 190 to the distal end of theoutput arm 186 b, and an angle formed by the input arm 186 a and theoutput arm 186 b in the first link member 186 are substantially the sameas a distance from the pivot axis 190 to the distal end of the input arm188 a, a distance from the pivot axis 190 to the distal end of theoutput arm 188 b, and an angle formed by the input arm 188 a and theoutput arm 188 b in the second link member 188.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the brake lever 49 of the left handle 20 isnot pushed up by the user, the inner cable 176 a of the right brakecable 176 is relatively pushed into the outer cable 176 b by the firstlink member 186 and the inner cable 182 a of the left brake cable 182 isrelatively pushed into the outer cable 182 b by the second link member188. In this state, the brake on the right front wheel 140 and the leftfront wheel 142 is released.

As shown in FIG. 20, when the brake lever 49 of the left handle 20 ispushed up by the user, the inner cable 94 a of the brake cable 94 isrelatively pulled into the outer cable 94 b. This moves the input arm186 a of the first link member 186 rightward and the output arm 186 bleftward, as a result of which the inner cable 176 a of the right brakecable 176 is relatively pulled out from the outer cable 176 b. At thesame time, the input arm 188 a of the second link member 188 is movedleftward and the output arm 188 b is moved rightward, as a result ofwhich the inner cable 182 a of the left brake cable 182 is relativelypulled out from the outer cable 182 b. As above, the right front wheel140 and the left front wheel 142 are braked.

Due to adjustment error between the right front wheel brake 144 and theleft front wheel brake 146 and/or age deterioration of the right brakecable 176 and the left brake cable 182, the right front wheel brake 144and the left front wheel brake 146 may operate differently even thoughthe right brake cable 176 and the left brake cable 182 are the same inthe pulled-out amount. For example, when the inner cable 94 a of thebrake cable 94 is relatively pulled into the outer cable 94 b, the brakepads contact the disk rotor 172 in the right front wheel brake 144,whereas the brake pads may not contact the disk rotor 178 in the leftfront wheel brake 146. In such a state, when the inner cable 94 a of thebrake cable 94 is further pulled into the outer cable 94 b, the firstlink member 186 does not pivot any more but the second link member 188further pivots, which brings the brake pads into contact with the diskrotor 178 in the left front wheel brake 146. As described, the brakeequalizer 148 of this embodiment can cancel out imbalance of tensionsacting on the right brake cable 176 and the left brake cable 182 by thepivoting of the first link member 186 and the second link member 188,and can balance out the braking force applied to the right front wheelbrake 144 and the braking three applied to the left front wheel brake146.

The brake equalizer 148 may be configured as shown in FIG. 56. In theconfiguration shown in FIG. 56, the brake equalizer 148 includes acentral bracket 184, a first link member 802, and a second link member804. A front end of the first link member 802 and a front end of thesecond link member 804 are pivotably supported by the central bracket184 via a pivot axis 806 extending in the up-down direction. The innercable 182 a of the left brake cable 182 is connected to a rear end ofthe first link member 802. The inner cable 176 a of the right brakecable 176 is connected to a rear end of the second link member 804. Theouter cable 176 b of the right brake cable 176 and the outer cable 182 bof the left brake cable 182 are both fixed to the central bracket 184.The inner cable 94 a of the brake cable 94 is connected to the vicinityof the center of the first link member 802. The outer cable 94 b of thebrake cable 94 is connected to the vicinity of the center of the secondlink member 804. A distance from the pivot axis 806 to the positionwhere the inner cable 94 a is retained and a distance from the pivotaxis 806 to the position where the inner cable 182 a is retained in thefirst link member 802 are substantially the same as a distance from thepivot axis 806 to the position where the outer cable 94 b is retainedand a distance from the pivot axis 806 to the position where the innercable 176 a is retained in the second link member 804, respectively.

When the brake lever 49 of the left handle 20 is not pushed up by theuser, the inner cable 182 a of the left brake cable 182 is relativelypushed in the outer cable 182 b by the first link member 802 and theinner cable 176 a of the right brake cable 176 is relatively pushed inthe outer cable 176 b by the second link member 804. In this state, thebrake on the right front wheel 140 and the left front wheel 142 isreleased.

When the brake lever 49 of the left handle 20 is pushed up by the user,the inner cable 94 a of the brake cable 94 is relatively pulled into theouter cable 94 b. This causes the first link member 802 to rotaterightward, thus the inner cable 182 a of the left brake cable 182 isthereby relatively pulled out from the outer cable 182 b. At the sametime, the second link member 804 rotates leftward, thus the inner cable176 a of the right brake cable 176 is thereby relatively pulled out fromthe outer cable 176 b. As a result, the right front wheel 140 and theleft front wheel 142 are braked. As described, the configuration shownin FIG. 56 can also cancel out the imbalance of tensions acting on theright brake cable 176 and the left brake cable 182 by the pivoting ofthe first link member 802 and the second link member 804, and canbalance out the braking force applied to the right front wheel brake 144and the braking force applied to the left front wheel brake 146.

Alternatively, the brake equalizer 148 may be configured as shown inFIG. 57. In the configuration shown in FIG. 57, the brake equalizer 148includes the central bracket 184, a first link member 808, and a secondlink member 810. The first link member 808 is pivotably supported by thecentral bracket 184 via a pivot axis 812 extending in the up-downdirection. The second link member 810 is pivotably supported by thecentral bracket 184 via a pivot axis 814 extending in the up-downdirection. The inner cable 176 a of the right brake cable 176 isconnected to a rear end of the first link member 808. The inner cable182 a of the left brake cable 182 is connected to a rear end of thesecond link member 810. The outer cable 176 b of the right brake cable176 and the outer cable 182 b of the left brake cable 182 are both fixedto the central bracket 184. The inner cable 94 a of the brake cable 94is connected to a front end of the first link member 808. The outercable 94 b of the brake cable 94 is connected to a front end of thesecond link member 810. A distance from the pivot axis 812 to theposition where the inner cable 94 a is retained and a distance from thepivot axis 812 to the position where the inner cable 176 a is retainedin the first link member 808 are substantially the same as a distancefrom the pivot axis 814 to the position where the outer cable 94 b isretained and a distance from the pivot axis 814 to the position wherethe inner cable 182 a is retained in the second link member 810,respectively.

When the brake lever 49 of the left handle 20 is not pushed up by theuser, the inner cable 176 a of the right brake cable 176 is relativelypushed into the outer cable 176 b by the first link member 808, and theinner cable 182 a of the left brake cable 182 is relatively pushed intothe outer cable 182 b by the second link member 810. In this state, thebrake on the right front wheel 140 and the left front wheel 142 isreleased.

When the brake lever 49 of the left handle 20 is pushed up by the user,the inner cable 94 a of the brake cable 94 is relatively pulled into theouter cable 94 b. This causes the first link member 808 to pivot suchthat its front end moves rightward and its rear end moves leftward, thusthe inner cable 176 a of the right brake cable 176 is relatively pulledout from the outer cable 176 b. At the same time, the second link member810 pivots such that its front end moves leftward and its rear end movesrightward, thus the inner cable 182 a of the left brake cable 182 isrelatively pulled out from the outer cable 182 b. As a result, the rightfront wheel 140 and the left front wheel 142 are braked. As described,the configuration of FIG. 57 can also cancel out the imbalance oftensions acting on the right brake cable 176 and the left brake cable182 by the pivoting of the first link member 808 and the second linkmember 810, and can balance out the braking force applied to the rightfront wheel brake 144 and the braking force applied to the left frontwheel brake 146.

(Motor 150)

As shown in FIG. 21, the motor 150 includes a stator 192, a rotor 194,and a motor case 196. The motor 150 is, for example, a brushless DCmotor. The stator 192 and the rotor 194 are housed in the motor case196. The motor case 196 is constituted of an aluminum material. Thestator 192 is fixed to the motor case 196. The rotor 194 is fixed to amotor shaft 198. The motor shaft 198 extends in the right-left directionand is rotatably supported by the motor case 196 via bearings 198 a and198 b. A left end of the motor shaft 198 is connected to the gearbox152. A right end of the motor Shaft 198 is located outside of the motorcase 196 and is connected to the dead man's brake 154. The motor 150 isconnected to the battery box 8 via a power cable (not shown). The motor150 is supplied with power from the battery packs 112. Operation of themotor 150 is controlled by the control board 108.

(Gearbox 152)

The gearbox 152 includes a gear case 200, an intermediate shaft 202, aclutch mechanism 206, and a differential mechanism 208. The gear case200 is constituted of an aluminum material. The right axle case 162, theleft axle case 168, and the gear case 200 are fixed with screws. Themotor case 196 is screwed and fixed to the gear case 200. The gear case200 is screwed and fixed to the central bracket 184 of the central framepipe 136 via a support bracket (not shown).

The intermediate shaft 202 extends in the right-left direction and isrotatably supported by the gear case 200 via bearings 202 a and 202 b.The intermediate shaft 202 includes a first gear 203, a second gear 204,and a dog clutch 205. The first gear 203 is fixed to the intermediateshaft 202. The first gear 203 meshes with a spur gear 198 c disposed onthe motor shaft 198. The first gear 203 includes an engagement recess203 a that is recessed rightward. The second gear 204 is immovable inthe right-left direction with respect to the intermediate shaft 202 andis rotatably supported by the intermediate shaft 202. The dog clutch 205is movable in the right-left direction with respect to the second gear204 and is supported by the second gear 204 in a non-rotatable manner.The dog clutch 205 includes an engagement projection 205 a that projectsrightward and is configured to engage with the engagement recess 203 aof the first gear 203 and an engagement groove 205 b thatcircumferentially extends in an outer circumferential surface of the dogclutch 205.

The clutch mechanism 206 includes a clutch lever 210, a support bracket212, a rod 214, and a selector 216. The clutch lever 210 and the supportbracket 212 are disposed outside the gear case 200. The support bracket212 is screwed and fixed to the gear case 200. The clutch lever 210 ispivotably supported by the support bracket 212 about a pivot axis 210 a.The clutch lever 210 includes a cam surface 210 b. The rod 214 extendsin the right-left direction and penetrates the gear case 200 from theinside to the outside thereof. The rod 214 is supported by the gear case200 and is slidable in the right-left direction. A left end of the rod214 is located to face the cam surface 210 b of the clutch lever 210.The selector 216 is fixed to a right end of the rod 214, and theselector 216 is engaged with the engagement groove 205 b of the dogclutch 205. The rod 214 is biased leftward with respect to the gear case200 by a compression spring (not shown). Thus, the left end of the rod214 is always in contact with the cam surface 210 b of the clutch lever210. The cam surface 210 b of the clutch lever 210 has a shape thatallows the rod 214 to move leftward when the clutch lever 210 is pushedtoward the support bracket 212 (see FIG. 21) and allows the rod 214 tomove rightward when the clutch lever 210 is pulled away from the supportbracket 212 (see FIG. 22).

The differential mechanism 208 includes a ring gear 208 a, a pillioncase 208 b, a pinion shaft 208 c, a pinion gear 208 d, a right drivegear 208 e, and a left drive gear 208 f. The ring gear 208 a meshes withthe second gear 204 of the intermediate shaft 202. The pinion case 208 bis screwed and fixed to the ring gear 208 a and rotates integrally withthe ring gear 208 a. The ring gear 208 a is rotatably supported by thegear case 200 via a bearing 208 g, and the pinion case 208 b isrotatably supported by the gear case 200 via a bearing 208 h. The pinionshaft 208 c is rotatably supported by the pinion case 208 b. The piniongear 208 d is fixed to the pinion shaft 208 c. The right drive gear 208e is fixed to the right drive shaft 160 and meshes with the pinion gear208 d. The left drive gear 208 f is fixed to the left drive shaft 166and meshes with the pinion gear 208 d.

As shown in FIG. 21, when the clutch lever 210 of the clutch mechanism206 is pushed down, the rod 214 and the selector 216 moves leftward andthe engagement projection 205 a of the dog clutch 205 separates from theengagement recess 203 a of the first gear 203. In this state, the secondgear 204 does not rotate even when the first gear 203 rotates. Thus,power from the motor shaft 198 is not transmitted to the ring gear 208 aof the differential mechanism 208. In this case, when one of the rightdrive shaft 160 and the left drive shaft 166 rotates, the differentialmechanism 208 rotates the other of the right drive shaft 160 and theleft drive shaft 166 at the same rotational speed in the oppositedirection.

As shown in FIG. 22, when the clutch lever 210 of the clutch mechanism206 is pulled up, the rod 214 and the selector 216 moves rightward andthe engagement projection 205 a of the dog clutch 205 engages with theengagement recess 203 a of the first gear 203. In this state, the secondgear 204 rotates when the first gear 203 rotates. Thus, the power fromthe motor shaft 198 is transmitted to the ring gear 208 a of thedifferential mechanism 208 via the intermediate shaft 202. In this case,the differential mechanism 208 rotates the right drive shaft 160 and theleft drive shaft 166 according to the power transmitted to the ring gear208 a.

(Dead Man's Brake 154)

As shown in FIG. 23, the dead man's brake 154 includes a disk rotor 218and a brake caliper 220. The disk rotor 218 is fixed to the right end ofthe motor shaft 198 of the motor 150. Although not shown in FIG. 23, thedisk rotor 218 is covered by a disk cover 218 a (see FIGS. 21 and 22)fixed to the motor case 196. The brake caliper 220 is disposedcorresponding to the disk rotor 218. The brake caliper 220 is supportedby the motor case 196. The dead man's cable 90 extending from the righthandle 18 is connected to the brake caliper 220. The brake caliper 220biases a pair of brake pads (not shown) by a return spring (not shown)in a direction that brings the pair to sandwich the vicinity of outeredge of the disk rotor 218. Thus, when the inner cable 90 a of the deadman's cable 90 is relatively pushed out from the outer cable 90 b, thepair of brake pads sandwich the vicinity of the outer edge of the diskrotor 218, which applies a frictional force to the disk rotor 218 andbrakes the motor shaft 198. When the inner cable 90 a of the dead man'scable 90 is relatively pulled into the outer cable 90 b, the pair ofbrake pads separates away from the disk rotor 218 against the biasingforce of the return spring, which releases the brake on the motor shaft198. The dead man's brake 154 may be a so-called disk brake as describedabove, or may be another type of brake such as a drum brake or a bandbrake.

While the right front wheel 140 and left front wheel 142 are rotated bythe power of the motor 150, the motor shaft 198 is rotated at highrotational speed and low torque, whereas the right drive shaft 160 andleft drive shaft 166 are rotated at low rotational speed and hightorque. Since braking the motor shaft 198 by the dead man's brake 154requires small torque for the brake as compared to braking the rightfront wheel 140 by the right front wheel brake 144 and braking the leftfront wheel 142 by the left front wheel brake 146, it can surely stopthe rotation of the right front wheel 140 and the left front wheel 142.

The motor 150, the gearbox 152, and the dead man's brake 154 may beconfigured as shown in FIGS. 58 and 59. In this configuration, the rightend of the motor shaft 198 is not located outside of the motor case 196.Further, a brake disk 850 is fixed to the left end of the motor shaft198.

In the configuration shown in FIGS. 58 and 59, the gearbox 152 includesthe gear case 200, a relay shaft 852, the differential mechanism 208, adifferential look mechanism 854, and a brake mechanism 856. In thisconfiguration, the brake disk 850 and the brake mechanism 856 configurethe dead man's brake 154. The relay shaft 852 extends in the right-leftdirection and is rotatably supported by the gear case 200 via bearings852 a and 852 b. The relay shaft 852 includes a spur gear 852 c and aspur gear 852 d. The spur gear 852 c meshes with the spur gear 198 cdisposed on the motor shaft 198. The spur gear 852 d meshes with thering gear 208 a of the differential mechanism 208.

The differential lock mechanism 854 includes a dog clutch 858 and acompression spring 860. The dog clutch 858 is slidable in the right-leftdirection with respect to the left drive shaft 166 and is supported bythe left drive Shaft 166 to rotate integrally with the left drive shaft166. The dog clutch 858 includes an engagement projection 858 aprojecting rightward and an engagement groove 858 b circumferentiallyextending in an outer circumferential surface of dog clutch 858. In thisconfiguration, the ring gear 208 a of the differential mechanism 208includes an engagement recess 208 i configured to engage with theengagement projection 858 a of the dog clutch 858. The compressionspring 860 biases the dog clutch 858 rightward (i.e., in a directionthat brings the dog clutch 858 close to the ring gear 208 a) withrespect to the gear case 200.

The brake mechanism 856 includes a rod 862, a brake plate 864, and acompression spring 866. The rod 862 extends in the right-left directionand penetrates the gear case 200 from the inside to the outside thereof.The rod 862 is supported by the gear case 200 and is slidable in theright-left direction. The inner cable 90 a of the dead man's cable 90 isconnected to a left end of the rod 862. The outer cable 90 b of the deadman's cable 90 is connected to the gear case 200. The brake plate 864 isfixed to a right end of the rod 862. The brake plate 864 is providedwith a brake shoe 864 a disposed corresponding to the brake disk 850 anda selector 864 b configured to engage with the engagement groove 858 bof the dog clutch 858. The compression spring 866 biases the brake plate864 rightward (i.e., in a direction that brings the brake plate 864close to the brake disk 850) with respect to the gear case 200.

As shown in FIG. 59, when the inner cable 90 a of the dead man's cable90 is relatively pushed out from the outer cable 90 b, the rod 862 andthe brake plate 864 is moved rightward by the biasing force of thecompression spring 866 and the brake shoe 864 a is pressed against thebrake disk 850. This applies a frictional force to the brake disk. 850and brakes the motor shaft 198. Further, when the selector 864 bdisposed on the brake plate 864 is moved rightward, the dog clutch 858is also moved rightward by the biasing three of the compression spring860 and the engagement projection 858 a of the dog clutch 858 engageswith the engagement recess 208 i of the ring gear 208 a. In this case,at the differential mechanism 208, the ring gear 208 a is fixed to theleft drive shaft 166, and the right drive shaft 160 and the left driveshaft 166 rotate at the same rotational speed in the same direction.Braking the rotation of the motor shah 198 by the dead man's brake 154results in braking the rotation of the ring gear 208 a, thereby brakingthe rotation of the right drive shaft 160 and the left drive shaft 166.

As shown in FIG. 58, when the inner cable 90 a of the dead man's cable90 is relatively pulled into the outer cable 90 b, the rod 862 and thebrake plate 864 are moved leftward and the brake shoe 864 a is separatedaway from the brake disk 850. This releases the brake on the motor shaft198. Further, when the selector 864 b disposed on the brake plate 864 ismoved leftward; the dog clutch 858 is also moved leftward and theengagement projection 858 a of the dog clutch 858 is separated from theengagement recess 208 i of the ring gear 208 a. In this case, thedifferential mechanism 208 rotates the right drive shaft 160 and theleft drive shaft 166 according to the power transmitted from the motorshaft 198 to the ring gear 208 a via the relay shaft 852.

(Right Headlight 156 and Left Headlight 158)

As shown FIG. 17, the right headlight 156 is supported by the rightbracket 164. The right headlight 156 is connected to the battery box 8via the power supply cable 156 a. The left headlight 158 is supported bythe left bracket 170. The left headlight 158 is connected to the rightheadlight 156 via a relay cable 158 a. The right headlight 156 and theleft headlight 158 are supplied with electric power from the batterypacks 112. Operations of the right headlight 156 and the left headlight158 are controlled by the control board 108.

(Rear Wheel Unit 14)

As shown in FIGS. 24, 25, and 26, the rear wheel unit 14 includes a baseplate 222, a hinge 224, a right caster 226, and a left caster 228. Thebase plate 222 and the hinge 224 are both constituted of a steelmaterial. The base plate 222 includes a web 222 a extending along thefront-rear direction and the right-left direction, a front flange 222 bbent downward from a front end of the web 222 a, and a rear flange 222 cbent downward from a rear end of the web 222 a. The hinge 224 includes asupport pipe 224 a extending in the front-rear direction, a frontsupport plate 224 b extending in the up-down direction and theright-left direction, and a rear support plate 224 c extending in theup-down direction and the right-left direction. The front support plate224 b has a substantially triangular shape and is welded to the vicinityof a front end of the support pipe 224 a with the support pipe 224 apenetrating the center of the front support plate 224 b. The rearsupport plate 224 c has a substantially triangular shape and is weldedto the vicinity of a rear end of the support pipe 224 a with the supportpipe 224 a penetrating the center of the rear support plate 224 c. Lowerends of the front support plate 224 b and the rear support plate 224 care welded to an upper surface of the web 222 a of the base plate 222.In the following description, the base plate 222 and the hinge 224 maybe collectively referred to as a rear wheel frame 225.

(Right Caster 226)

The right caster 226 includes a center pin 230, a top plate 232, abracket 234, a wheel shaft 236, a right rear wheel 238, and a lockmechanism 240.

As shown in FIG. 27, the center pin 230 penetrates the web 222 a of thebase plate 222 in the up-down direction. The center pin 230 is rotatablysupported by the top plate 232 via a bearing 230 a. The top plate 232 isscrewed and fixed to the base plate 222 with an upper surface of the topplate 232 being in contact with a lower surface of the web 222 a of thebase plate 222. The bracket 234 includes a retainer 234 a, a right arm234 b, and a left arm 234 c. The retainer 234 a, the right arm 234 b,and the left arm 234 c are configured integrally. The center pin 230penetrates the retainer 234 a in the up-down direction. The retainer 234a is fixed to a lower end of the center pin 230. The retainer 234 a isrotatably supported by the top plate 232 via a bearing 234 d. The rightarm 234 b extends rearward and downward from a right end of the retainer234 a. The left arm 234 c extends rearward and downward from a left endof the retainer 234 a.

As shown in FIG. 28, the wheel shaft 236 extends in the right-leftdirection. The wheel shaft 236 is configured of a bolt 236 a thatpenetrates a distal end portion of the left arm 234 c to a distal endportion of the right arm 234 b and a nut 236 b that is screwed to thebolt 236 a from the distal end side of the right arm 234 b. A right endof the wheel shaft 236 is fixed to the distal end of the right arm 234b, and a left end of the wheel shaft 236 is fixed to the distal end ofthe left arm 234 c. The right rear wheel 238 includes a first right rearwheel 238 a and a second right rear wheel 238 b. The first right rearwheel 238 a is rotatably supported by the wheel shaft 236 via a bearing238 c. The second right rear wheel 238 b is rotatably supported by thewheel shaft 236 via a bearing 238 d. That is, the first right rear wheel238 a and the second right rear wheel 238 b are rotatable about arotation axis RX2, which is a central axis of the wheel shaft 236,independently of each other. Diameters of the first right rear wheel 238a and the second right rear wheel 238 b are, for example, 200 mm, andwidths of the first right rear wheel 238 a and the second right rearwheel 238 b are, for example, 100 mm. An interval between the firstright rear Wheel 238 a and the second right rear wheel 238 b is, forexample, 6 mm±2 mm.

As shown in FIG. 61, the wheel shaft 236 may be configured of a sleeve236 c that penetrates the distal end portion of the left arm 234 c andthe distal end portion of the right arm 234 b and includes a threadedinner surface, a bolt 236 d that is screwed into the sleeve 236 c fromthe distal end side of the right arm 234 b, and a bolt 236 e that isscrewed into the sleeve 236 c from the distal end side of the left arm234 c, in the configuration in which the wheel shaft 236 is configuredof the bolt 236 a and the nut 236 b as shown in FIG. 28, the tip of thebolt 236 a protrudes from the nut 236 b when the nut 236 b is screwed tothe bolt 236 a, which results in increased protrusion from the bracket234 and may diminish the aesthetic appearance of the product. Theconfiguration in which the wheel shaft 236 is configured of the sleeve236 c and the bolts 236 d and 236 e, as shown in FIG. 61, can reduce theprotrusion from the bracket 234 and improves the aesthetic appearance ofthe product.

In the right caster 226, the bracket 234, the wheel shaft 236, and theright rear wheel 238 integrally pivot, with respect to the top plate232, on a pivot axis RX1 which is a central axis of the center pin 230.Thus, a traveling direction of the right rear wheel 238 can be changedin accordance with a traveling direction of the rear wheel unit 14.

As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, in a top plan view of the right caster 226,the rotation axis RX2, which is the central axis of the wheel shaft 236,is offset from the pivot axis RX1, which is the central axis of thecenter pin 230. A distance from the pivot axis RX1 to the rotation axisRX2 in the top plan view of the right caster 226 is, for example, withina range of 50 mm to 60 mm, and the distance is, for example, 55 mm.

As shown in FIG. 27, the lock mechanism 240 includes a lock pin 242, asupport plate 244, and a compression spring 246. The lock pin 242 is asubstantially L-shaped rod member. The lock pin 242 includes a firstshaft portion 242 a extending in the up-down direction and a secondshaft portion 242 b that is bent at an upper end of the first shaftportion 242 a. The support plate 244 is screwed and fixed to the uppersurface of the web 222 a of the base plate 222. As shown in FIG. 29, thesupport plate 244 includes a through hole 244 a through which the firstshaft portion 242 a of the lock pin 242 passes in the up-down direction.An upper end of the support plate 244 is provided with a first retainerportion 244 b configured to retain the second shaft portion 242 b of thelock pin 242 at a first height and a second retainer portion 244 cconfigured to retain the second shaft portion 242 b of the lock pin 242at a second height that is lower than the first height. As shown in FIG.27, the compression spring 246 biases the lock pin 242 downward relativeto the support plate 244.

As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, the top plate 232 is provided with athrough hole 232 a through which the first shaft portion 242 a of thelock pin 242 passes. Engagement grooves 234 e with which the first shaftportion 242 a of the lock pin 242 engages are disposed in the retainer234 a of the bracket 234 at predetermined angular intervals. As shown inFIG. 30, when the second shaft portion 242 b of the lock pin 242 isretained by the first retainer portion 244 b of the support plate 244,the first shaft portion 242 a of the lock pin 242 is through the throughhole 232 a of the top plate 232 but is not engaged with any of theengagement grooves 234 e of the bracket 234. This state allows thebracket 234, the wheel shaft 236, and the right rear wheel 238 tointegrally pivot with respect to the top plate 232. The position of thelock pin 242 in this state may be referred to as an unlocked position.As shown in FIG. 31, when the second shaft portion 242 b of the lock pin242 is retained by the second retainer portion 244 c of the supportplate 244, the first shaft portion 242 a of the lock pin 242 is throughthe through hole 232 a of the top plate 232 and is further engaged withone of the engagement grooves 234 e of the bracket 234. This stateprohibits the bracket 234, the wheel shaft 236, and the right rear wheel238 from integrally pivoting with respect to the top plate 232. Theposition of the lock pin 242 in this state may be referred to as alocking position. By switching the position of the lock pin 242 betweenthe locking position and the unlocked position, the user of the cart 2can switch the state of right caster 226 between the state that allowsthe integral pivoting of the bracket 234, the wheel shaft 236, and theright rear wheel 238 and the state that prohibits the integral pivoting.

For a configuration in which the right rear wheel 238 includes only asingle wheel 238 e, FIG. 32 shows a positional relationship between thecenter pin 230, the wheel shaft 236, and the wheel 238 e in the top viewof the right caster 226. For example, when the right rear wheel 238obliquely collides with a bump S, the right rear wheel 238 would easilycross over the bump S if the wheel shaft 236 and the wheel 238 e arepivoted such that the traveling direction of the wheel 238 e becomesperpendicular to the bump S as shown in FIG. 33. However, torque T,which is due to the force the wheel 238 e receives from the bump S shownin FIG. 32, acts in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned pivotdirection, thus the wheel 238 e pivots such that a side surface of thewheel 238 e comes into contact with the bump S as shown in FIG. 60. Withthe wheel 238 e pivoted as such, the right rear wheel 238 cannot crossover the bump S.

On the other hand, in the cart 2 of the present embodiment, the rightrear wheel 238 includes the first right rear wheel 238 a and the secondright rear wheel 238 b as shown in FIG. 34. For example, when the rightrear wheel 238 obliquely collides with the bump S, the right rear wheel238 would easily cross over the bump S if the first right rear wheel 238a and the second right rear wheel 238 b pivot such that the travelingdirection of the first right rear wheel 238 a and the second right rearwheel 238 b becomes perpendicular to the bump S as shown in FIG. 35. Inthe present embodiment, torque T, which is due to the force the secondright rear wheel 238 b receives from the bump S shown in FIG. 34, actsin the same direction as the above-mentioned pivot direction, thus theright rear wheel 238 can easily cross over the bump S.

In the cart 2 of the present embodiment, the first right rear wheel 238a and the second right rear wheel 238 b are rotatable to the wheel shaft236 independent of each other. Thus, as shown in FIG. 34, for example,when the right rear wheel 238 obliquely collides with the bump S and thesecond right rear Wheel 238 b comes into contact with the bump 5,rotating the first right rear wheel 238 a, which is not in contact withthe bump S, relative to the second right rear wheel 238 b can easilychange the traveling direction of the right rear wheel 238 to becomeperpendicular to the bump S as shown in FIG. 35, and the right rearwheel 238 can thereby easily cross over the bump S.

(Left Caster 228)

Similar to the right caster 226, the left caster 228 includes a centerpin 250, a top plate 252, a bracket 254, a shaft 256, a left rear wheel258, and a lock mechanism 260. The bracket 254 includes a retainer 254a, a right arm 254 b, and a left arm 254 c. The left rear wheel 258includes a first left rear wheel 258 a and a second left rear wheel 258b. The lock mechanism 260 includes a lock pin 262, a support plate 264,and a compression spring 266. Detailed description for the configurationof the left caster 228 is omitted because it is the same as horizontallyinverted configuration of the right caster 226.

(Coupling Site of Rear Wheel Unit 14 and Chassis Frame 10)

As shown in. FIG. 36, the rear wheel unit 14 is connected to the chassisframe 10 via a coupling shaft 270 extending in the front-rear direction.As shown in FIG. 37, a coupling pipe 272 and a support plate 274 arewelded to the lower surface of the frame plate 130 of the chassis frame10. The coupling pipe 272 extends along the front-rear direction, afront end thereof penetrates the support plate 274, and a rear endthereof penetrates the rear flange 130 c. The coupling shaft 270includes a head 270 a and a shaft 270 b. The shaft 270 b of the couplingshaft 270 is inserted into the support pipe 224 a of the rear wheel unit14 from the rear and penetrates the support pipe 224 a, and furtherpenetrates the coupling pipe 272 of the chassis frame 10. A front end ofthe coupling shaft 270 is fixed to the support plate 274 with a couplingpin 276.

The support pipe 224 a is slidable relative to the coupling shaft 270.Thus, as shown in FIG. 38, the rear wheel unit 14 is supported by thechassis frame 10 such that it is swingable about a swing axis PX whichis a central axis of the coupling shaft 270. This configuration allowsthe rear wheel unit 14 to swing with respect to the chassis frame 10when the cart 2 travels on an uneven surface, which helps the cart 2 towell follow the surface. Further, as Shown in FIG. 10, in a rear planview of the chassis unit 4, the swing axis PX of the rear wheel unit 14is located above a straight line L passing through an upper end of theright rear wheel 238 and an upper end of the left rear wheel 258. Thissecures the minimum ground clearance and suppresses vibrations of thechassis frame 10 while the cart 2 travels. As shown in FIG. 38, the rearflange 130 c of the chassis frame 10 is provided with a right stoppersurface 130 d located rightward of the coupling shaft 270 and a leftstopper surface 130 e located leftward of the coupling shaft 270. Theright stopper surface 130 d is inclined upward from the left toward thelight. The right stopper surface 130 d contacts the floor plate 130 a ofthe chassis frame 10 when the rear wheel unit 14 swings with respect tothe chassis frame 10 in a direction that moves the right rear wheel 238upward, thereby limiting the swing angle of the rear wheel unit 14 withrespect to the chassis frame 10. The left stopper surface 130 e isinclined upward from the right to the left. The left stopper surface 130e contacts the floor plate 130 a of the chassis frame 10 when the rearwheel unit 14 swings with respect to the chassis frame 10 in a directionthat moves the left rear wheel 258 upward, thereby limiting the swingangle of the rear wheel unit 14 with respect to the chassis frame 10. Inanother embodiment, the rear wheel unit 14 may be supported by thechassis frame 10 such that it is not swingable about the swing axis PXwith respect to the chassis frame 10.

In the chassis unit 4 of the present embodiment, the right front wheel140 and the left front wheel 142 are drive wheels, while the right rearwheel 238 and the left rear wheel 258 are non-drive wheels. In anotherembodiment, the right front wheel 140 and/or the left front wheel 142may be non-drive wheel(s), and the right rear wheel 238 and/or the leftrear wheel 258 may be drive wheel(s). Further, in another embodiment,one of the front wheel unit 12 and the rear wheel unit 14 may includeonly one wheel, and the other of the front wheel unit 12 and the rearwheel unit 14 may include a plurality of wheels. In yet anotherembodiment, the chassis unit 4 may not include the rear wheel unit 14,and the front wheel unit 12 may include only one drive wheel. In yetanother embodiment, the chassis unit 4 may include a crawler that isdriven by a prime mover, instead of the right front wheel 140, the leftfront wheel 142, the right rear wheel 238 and the left rear wheel 258.

In the chassis unit 4 of the present embodiment, the prime mover forrotating the drive wheel(s) is the motor 150, and the motor 150 isdriven by the power from the battery packs 112 in the battery box 8. Inanother embodiment, the prime mover for rotating the drive wheel(s) maybe an engine. In yet another embodiment, the motor 150 may be driven bypower supplied via a power cord from an external power supply. In yetanother embodiment, the motor 150 may be a motor other than a brushlessmotor, such as a motor with brush. In yet another embodiment, the motor150 may be an in-wheel motor corresponding to each of the drivewheel(s).

The chassis unit 4 of the present embodiment includes the right handle18 and the left handle 20 which extend in the up-down direction on theright side and the left side of the user, of which upper ends are bentrearward, and of which rear ends are provided with the grips 38 and 48.In another embodiment, the chassis unit 4 may include a so-called loopedhandle in which support portions extend in the up-down direction on theright side and the left side of the user and upper ends of the supportportions are connected by a grip portion extending in the right-leftdirection. In this case, the taillight 74 may be disposed on the supportportion on the right side of the user and/or the support portion on theleft side of the user, and/or may be disposed in the vicinity of rightend and/or left end of the grip portion extending in the right-leftdirection. Alternatively, the chassis unit 4 may include a so-calledT-shaped handle in which a support portion extends in the up-downdirection at the center in the right-left direction and an upper end ofthe support portion is connected to a grip portion extending in theright-left direction. In this case, the taillight 74 may be disposed inthe vicinity of right end and/or left end of the grip portion extendingin the right-left direction.

(First Container Unit 300)

As shown in FIGS. 39 and 40, the first container unit 300 includes acontainer 302, a right guard 304, a left guard 306, a front guard 308, arear guard 310, first arms 312, second arms 314, an actuator 316, and asupport base 318. The support base 318 of the first container unit 300is screwed and fixed to the chassis unit 4. The first container unit 300is configured to move the container 302 in the up-down directionrelative to the support base 318 by the actuator 316.

As shown in FIGS. 39, 40, and 41, the container 302 includes a containerplate 320, a right channel 322, a left Channel 324, reinforcementchannels 326, right guard retaining portions 328, left guard retainingportions 330, and front guard retaining portions 332. All of thecontainer plate 320, the right channel 322, the left channel 324, thereinforcement channels 326, the right guard retaining portions 328, theleft guard retaining portions 330, and the front guard retainingportions 332 are constituted of a steel material. The container plate320 includes a top plate 320 a that extends in the front-rear directionand in the right-left direction and has a substantially rectangularshape with a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction, a rightflange 320 b that is bent downward from a right end of the top plate 320a, a left flange 320 c that is bent downward from a left end of the topplate 320 a, a front flange 320 d that is bent downward from a front endof the top plate 320 a, and a rear flange 320 e that is bent downwardfrom a rear end of the top plate 320 a. An upper surface of the topplate 320 a configures a flat surface on which a load is to be placed.The right channel 322 and the left channel 324 extend in the front-reardirection between the front flange 320 d and the rear flange 320 e alonga lower surface of the top plate 320 a and are welded to the containerplate 320. The right channel 322 has a cross-sectional shape with itsleft side opened, and the left channel 324 has a cross-sectional shapewith its right side opened. The reinforcement channels 326 extend alongthe lower surface of the top plate 320 a between the right flange 320 band the right channel 322 and between the left flange 320 c and the leftchannel 324, and are welded to the container plate 320. The right guardretaining portions 328 are welded to a right surface of the right flange320 b. The right guard retaining portions 328 are located in thevicinity of connection site of the reinforcement channels 326 and theright flange 320 b, The left guard retaining portions 330 are welded toa left surface of the left flange 320 c. The left guard retainingportions 330 are located in the vicinity of connection site of thereinforcement channels 326 and the left flange 320 c. The front guardretaining portions 332 are welded to a front surface of the front flange320 d. The front guard retaining portions 332 are located in thevicinity of connection site of the right channel 322 and the frontflange 320 d and in the vicinity of connection site of the left channel324 and the front flange 320 d.

The right guard 304 includes a guard pipe 304 a and a support pipe 304b. Both of the guard pipe 304 a and the support pipe 304 b areconstituted of a steel material. The guard pipe 304 a extends in thefront-rear direction and is bent downward at its front and rear ends.The support pipe 304 b extends in the up-down direction and its upperend is welded to a lower surface of the guard pipe 304 a. The left guard306 includes a guard pipe 306 a and a support pipe 306 b. Both of theguard pipe 306 a and the support pipe 306 b are constituted of a steelmaterial. The guard pipe 306 a extends in the front-rear direction andis bent downward at its front and rear ends. The support pipe 306 bextends in the up-down direction and its upper end is welded to a lowersurface of the guard pipe 306 a. The front guard 308 includes a guardpipe 308 a and support pipes 308 b. All of the guard pipe 308 a and thesupport pipes 308 b are constituted of a steel material. The guard pipe308 a extends in the right-left direction and is bent downward at itsright and left ends. The support pipes 308 b extend in the up-downdirection and their upper ends are welded to a lower surface of theguard pipe 308 a. The rear guard 310 includes a guard pipe 310 a and aguard plate 310 b. Both of the guard pipe 310 a and the guard plate 310b are constituted of a steel material. The guard pipe 310 a extends inthe right left direction, is bent downward at its right and left ends,and has the ends fixed to the rear flange 320 e of the container plate320. The guard plate 310 b extends in the up-down direction and theright-left direction, and has its left and right ends welded to theguard pipe 310 a.

As shown in FIG. 42, the right guard retaining portion 328 has asubstantially rectangular tube shape and includes an upper opening 328 aand a lower opening 328 b. An inner space of the right guard retainingportion 328 is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the supportpipe 304 b of the right guard 304 in the right-left direction and is atleast twice the outer diameter of the support pipe 304 b of the rightguard 304 in the front-rear direction. A support plate 328 c extendingalong the front-rear direction and the right-left direction is disposedat a lower front portion of the right guard retaining portion 328. Aflange 328 d that is bent upward is disposed at a rear end of thesupport plate 328 c. A right surface of the right guard retainingportion 328 is provided with a right opening 328 e that is continuousfrom the lower opening 328 b. A retaining screw 304 c is attached to thevicinity of lower end of the support pipe 304 b of the right guard 304.The retaining screw 304 c is attached to the support pipe 304 b throughthe right opening 328 e with the support pipe 304 b inserted in theright guard retaining portion 328 from above. The retaining screw 304 cengages with an edge of the right opening 328 e when the support pipe304 b is moved upward relative to the right guard retaining portion 328to prevent the support pipe 304 b from getting out from the right guardretaining portion 328. An inner surface of the right guard retainingportion 328 is provided with a rubber 328 f for suppressing damage dueto contact with the support pipe 304 b.

When the lower end of the support pipe 304 b is in contact with thesupport plate 328 c as shown in FIG. 42, the right guard 304 is retainedby the right guard retaining portion 328 such that the upper end of theguard pipe 304 a is positioned higher than the upper surface of the topplate 320 a as shown in FIG. 39. In this state, the right guard 304 canprevent a load placed on the container plate 320 front falling off fromthe right side. The state of the right guard 304 shown in FIG. 42 may bereferred to as a first state.

When the right guard 304 is lifted upward, moved rearward, and thenmoved downward in the first state of FIG. 42, the support pipe 304 bpenetrates through the right guard retaining portion 328 and the lowersurface of the guard pipe 304 a makes contact with an edge of the upperopening 328 a of the right guard retaining portion 328 as shown in FIG.43. In this case, as shown in FIG. 44, the right guard 304 is retainedby the right guard retaining portion 328 such that the upper end of theguard pipe 304 a is positioned lower than the upper surface of the topplate 302 a. In this state, the right guard 304 does not interruptloading and unloading of a load onto/from the container plate 320, whichimproves loading/unloading efficiency. The state of the right guard 304shown in FIG. 43 may be referred to as a second state. When the rightguard 304 is lifted upward, moved forward, and then moved downward inthe second state of FIG. 43, the right guard 304 is brought back to thefirst state shown in FIG. 42. In the first container unit 300 of thepresent embodiment, the right guard 304 is not brought from the firststate of FIG. 42 to the second state of FIG. 43 unintentionally becausethe flange 328 d is disposed at the rear end of the support plate 328 e.

In the present embodiment, the height of the right guard 304 relative tothe container plate 320 can be changed by moving the right guard 304 inthe up-down direction and front-rear direction, without moving it in theright-left direction. For example, in a top plan view of the firstcontainer unit 300 with the first state of FIG. 42, an interval betweenthe right guard 304 and the container plate 320 is 30 mm±5 mm, and in atop plan view of the first container unit 300 with the second state ofFIG. 43, an interval between the right guard 304 and the container plate320 is 30 mm±5 mm. In the top view of the first container unit 300,change in the interval between the right guard 304 and the containerplate 320 when the right guard 304 is brought from the first state ofFIG. 42 to the second state of FIG. 43 and when the right guard 304 isbrought from the second state of FIG. 43 to the first state of FIG. 42is within a range of ±5 mm. This configuration enables height change ofthe right guard 304 relative to the container plate 320 even in asituation where a wide working space in the right-left direction cannotbe secured. In the first state of FIG. 42. and the second state of FIG.43, an interval into which the user can insert his/her finger(s) is leftbetween the right guard 304 and the container plate 320, thus the usercan easily grip the right guard 304.

Further, in the present embodiment, the height of the right guard 304relative to the container plate 320 can be changed without substantiallychanging the angle of the right guard 304 relative to the containerplate 320. For example, the angle of the right guard 304 relative to thecontainer plate 320 is 90 degrees±3 degrees in the first state shown inFIG. 42, and the angle of the right guard 304 relative to the containerplate 320 is 90 degrees±3 degrees in the second state shown in FIG. 43.Further, change in the angle of the right guard 304 relative to thecontainer plate 320 when the right guard 304 transitions from the firststate of FIG. 42 to the second state of FIG. 43 and when the right guard304 transitions from the second state of FIG. 43 to the first state ofFIG. 42 is within a range of ±3 degrees. This configuration enablesheight change of the right guard 304 relative to the container plate 320even in a situation where a wide working space in the right-leftdirection cannot be secured.

The left guard retaining portion 330 has a configuration similar to thatof the right guard retaining portion 328. In the state shown in FIG. 39,the left guard 306 is retained by the left guard retaining portion 330such that an upper end of the guard pipe 306 a is positioned higher thanthe upper surface of the top plate 320 a. When the left guard 306 islifted upward, moved rearward, and then moved downward in this state,the left guard 306 is retained by the left guard retaining portion 330such that the upper end of the guard pipe 306 a is positioned lower thanthe upper surface of the top plate 302 a, as shown in FIG. 44. When theleft guard 306 is lifted upward, moved forward, and then moved downwardin the state of FIG. 44, the left guard 306 is brought back to the stateof FIG. 39.

The front guard retaining portion 332 also has a similar configurationto that of the right guard retaining portion 328. In the state shown inFIG. 39, the front guard 308 is retained by the front guard retainingportion 332 such that an upper end of the guard pipe 308 a is positionedhigher than the upper surface of the top plate 320 a. When the frontguard 308 is lifted upward, moved leftward, and then moved downward inthis state, the front guard 308 is retained by the front guard retainingportion 332 such that the upper end of the guard pipe 308 a ispositioned lower than the upper surface of the top plate 302 a, as shownin FIG. 44. When the front guard 308 is lifted upward, moved rightward,and then moved downward in the state of FIG. 44, the front guard 308 isbrought back to the state of FIG. 39.

As shown in FIG. 41, the support base 318 includes a right channel 334,a left channel 336, a front plate 338, a rear plate 340, and areinforcement frame 342. All of the right channel 334, the left channel336, the front plate 338, the rear plate 340, the reinforcement frame342 are constituted of a steel material. The right channel 334 and theleft channel 336 extend in the front-rear direction. The right channel334 has a cross-sectional shape with its left side opened, and the leftchannel 336 has a cross-sectional shape with its right side opened. Thefront plate 338 is welded to a front end of the right channel 334 and afront end of the left channel 336. The rear plate 340 is welded to arear end of the right channel 334 and a rear end of the left channel336. As shown in FIG. 40, the first container unit 300 is fixed to thechassis unit 4 by screwing the front plate 338 to the right bracket 164and the left bracket 170 of the front wheel unit 12 and also screwingthe rear plate 340 to the frame plate 130 of the chassis frame 10. Thereinforcement frame 342 extends in the right-left direction, a right endthereof is welded to the right channel 334, and a left end thereof iswelded to the left channel 336.

As shown in FIG. 41, the first arms 312 and the second arms 314 areconnected to each other to be pivotable about a pivot axis, which is theright-left direction. The first arms 312 and the second arms 314 areboth constituted of a steel material. Lower ends of the first arms 312are supported at the vicinity of the front end of the right channel 334and at the vicinity of the front end of the left channel 336 of thesupport base 318 such that they are pivotable about a pivot axis, whichis the right-left direction. Upper ends of the first arms 312 includerollers 312 a and 312 b, respectively. The rollers 312 a and 312 b aresupported by the right channel 322 and left channel 324 of the container302, respectively. Upper ends of the second arms 314 are supported atthe vicinity of the front end of the container plate 320 of thecontainer 302 such that they are pilotable about a pivot axis, which isthe right-left direction. Lower ends of the second aims 314 includerollers 314 a and 314 b (see FIG. 40), respectively. The rollers 314 aand 314 b are supported by the right channel 334 and the left channel336 of the support base 318, respectively. A reinforcement frame 344 iswelded to the first arms 312.

The actuator 316 is a linear actuator configured to contract and expand,for example, a hydraulic cylinder. One end of the actuator 316 issupported by the reinforcement frame 342 of the support base 318 to bepivotable about a pivot axis, which is the right-left direction. Anotherend of the actuator 316 is supported by the reinforcement frame 344 ofthe first arms 312 to be pivotable about a pivot axis, which is theright-left direction. The actuator 316 is connected to the battery box 8via a power cable (not shown). The actuator 316 is supplied with thepower from the battery packs 112. Operation of the actuator 316 iscontrolled by the control board 108. When the actuator 316 contracts,the first arms 312 are pivoted in a direction that brings the upper endsof the first arms 312 close to the support base 318 and the second arms314 are also pivoted in a direction that brings the lower ends of thesecond arms 314 close to the container 302, as a result of which thecontainer 302 is lowered to the support base 318 as shown in FIG. 39.When the actuator 316 expands, the first arms 312 are pivoted in adirection that brings the upper ends of the first arms 312 away from thesupport base 318 and the second arms 314 are also pivoted in a directionthat brings the lower ends of the second arms 314 away from thecontainer 302, as a result of which the container 302 is lifted relativeto the support base 318 as shown in FIG. 40. The control board 108controls the actuator 316 to expand while the user presses an upperportion of the container operation switch 120 e. The control board 108controls the actuator 316 to contract while the user presses a lowerportion of the container operation switch 120 e.

(Second Container Unit 400)

As shown in FIGS. 45, 46, and 47, the second container unit 400 includesa bucket 402, a bucket support base 404, support arms 406, a movablesupport base 408, an actuator 410, and a fixed support base 412. Thefixed support base 412 of the second container unit 400 is screwed andfixed to the chassis frame 10. The second container unit 400 isconfigured to tilt the movable support base 408 relative to the fixedsupport base 412 by the actuator 410 as shown in FIG. 46. Further, thesecond container unit 400 is configured to further tilt the bucket 402relative to the fixed support base 412 as shown in FIG. 47 by the usertilting the bucket support base 404 relative to the movable support base408.

The bucket 402 has a box shape with its upper side open. As shown inFIG. 48, the bucket support base 404 includes a base plate 416, a basepipe 418, an upper frame 420, a lower frame 422, a handle 424, and alatch mechanism 426. All of the base plate 416, the base pipe 418, theupper frame 420, and the lower frame 422 are constituted of a steelmaterial. The base plate 416 is disposed along the front-rear directionand the right-left direction. The base pipe 418 extends along a lowersurface of a front lower portion of the bucket 402 and also extends inthe front-rear direction along a lower surface of the base plate 416.The base pipe 418 is screwed to the front lower portion of the bucket402 and is also screwed to the base plate 416. The upper frame 420 isdisposed between a lower surface of a rear lower portion of the bucket402 and the upper surface of the base plate 416, along the front-reardirection and the up-down. direction. The upper frame 420 is screwed tothe rear lower portion of the bucket 402 and is also screwed to the baseplate 416. The lower frame 422 extends in the front-rear direction alongthe lower surface of the base plate 416. The lower frame 422 is weldedto the base plate 416. The handle 424 is disposed rearward of the bucket402. The handle 424 is screwed to the lower frame 422. The latchmechanism 426 is disposed below the handle 424. The latch mechanism 426is fixed to the base plate 416 and the lower frame 422.

The movable support base 408 includes a right frame 428, a left frame430, a front frame 432, a rear frame 434, and a latch receiver 436. Allof the right frame 428, the left frame 430, the front frame 432, and therear frame 434 are constituted of a steel material. The right frame 428and the left frame 430 extend in the front-rear direction. A front endof the right frame 428 and a front end of the left frame 430 areconnected to a front end of the lower frame 422 of the bucket supportbase 404 to be pivotable about a pivot axis, which is the right-leftdirection. The front frame 432 extends in the right-left directionbetween the vicinity of the front end of the right frame 428 and thevicinity of the front end of the left frame 430. The front frame 432 iswelded to the right frame 428 and the left frame 430. The rear frame 434extends in the right-left direction between a rear end of the rightframe 428 and a rear end of the left frame 430. The rear frame 434 iswelded to the right frame 428 and the left frame 430. The latch receiver436 is fixed at the vicinity of a center of the rear frame 434. Thelatch receiver 436 is disposed at a position corresponding to the latchmechanism 426 of the bucket support base 404. When the bucket supportbase 404 is tilted relative to the movable support base 408 in adirection that brings a rear end of the bucket support base 404 close toa rear end of the movable support base 408, the latch mechanism 426engages with the latch receiver 436. The latch mechanism 426 includes aunlatch knob 426 a. The latch mechanism 426 is disengaged from the latchreceiver 436 by the user operating the unlatch knob 426 a when the latchmechanism 426 is engaged with the latch receiver 436.

The fixed support base 412 includes a right channel 438, a left channel440, a front plate 442, a rear plate 444, and a reinforcement frame 446.All of the right channel 438, the left channel 440, the front plate 442,the rear plate 444, and the reinforcement frame 446 are constituted of asteel material. The right channel 438 and the left channel 440 extend inthe front-rear direction. The right channel 438 has a cross-sectionalshape with its left side opened, and the left channel 440 has across-sectional shape with its right side opened. The front plate 442 iswelded to a front end of the right channel 438 and a front end of theleft channel 440. The rear plate 444 is welded to a rear end of theright channel 438 and a rear end of the left channel 440. As shown inFIGS. 46 and 47, the second container unit 400 is fixed to the chassisunit 4 by screwing the front plate 442 to the right bracket 164 and theleft bracket 170 of the front wheel unit 12 and also screwing the rearplate 444 to the frame plate 130 of the chassis frame 10. Thereinforcement frame 446 extends in the right-left direction, a right endthereof is welded to the right channel 438, a left end thereof is weldedto the left channel 440.

As shown in FIG. 48, upper ends of the support arms 406 are connected tothe vicinity of the front end of the lower frame 422 of the bucketsupport base 404 to be pivotable about a pivot axis, which is theright-left direction. The support arms 406 are constituted of a steelmaterial. Lower ends of the support arms 406 include rollers 406 a and406 b, respectively. The rollers 406 a and 406 b are supported by theright channel 438 and left channel 440 of the fixed support base 412,respectively.

The actuator 410 is a linear actuator configured to contract and expand,for example a hydraulic cylinder. One end of the actuator 410 issupported by the reinforcement frame 446 of the fixed support base 412to be pivotable about a pivot axis, which is the right-left direction.Another end of the actuator 410 is supported by the front frame 432 ofthe movable support base 408 to be pivotable about a pivot axis in theright-left direction. The actuator 410 is connected to the battery box 8of the chassis unit 4 via a power cable (not shown). The actuator 410 issupplied with the power from the battery packs 112. Operation of theactuator 410 is controlled by the control board 108. When the actuator410 contracts, the movable support base 408 is pivoted relative to thefixed support base 412 in a direction that brings the rear end of themovable support base 408 close to the rear end of the fixed support base412, as a result of which the movable support base 408 and the bucketsupport base 404 become substantially parallel to the fixed support base412 as shown in FIG. 45. When the actuator 410 expands, the movablesupport base 408 is pivoted relative to the fixed support base 412 in adirection that brings the rear end of the movable support base 408 awayfrom the rear end of the fixed support base 412, as a result of whichthe movable support base 408 and the bucket support base 404 becometilted relative to the fixed support base 412 as shown in FIG. 46. Thecontrol board 108 controls the actuator 410 to expand while the userpresses the upper portion of the container operation switch 120 e. Thecontrol board 108 controls the actuator 410 to contract while the userpresses the lower portion of the container operation switch 120 e. Whenthe user operates the unlatch knob 426 a to disengage the latchmechanism 426 from the latch receiver 436 in the state shown in FIG. 46and further pivots the handle 424 forward, the bucket support base 404becomes tilted relative to the movable support base 408 as shown in FIG.47.

(Third Container Unit 500)

As shown in FIGS. 49 and 50 the third container unit 500 includes abucket 502, a movable support base 504, support arms 506, and a fixedsupport base 508. The fixed support base 508 of the third container unit500 is screwed and fixed to the chassis unit 4. The third container unit500 is configured to tilt the bucket 502 relative to the fixed supportbase 508 as shown in FIG. 50 by the user tilting the movable supportbase 504 relative to the fixed support base 508.

The bucket 502 has a box shape with its upper side opened. As shown inFIG. 51, the movable support base 504 includes a base plate 510, a basepipe 512, an upper frame 514, a lower frame 516, a handle 518, and alatch mechanism 520. All of the base plate 510, the base pipe 512, theupper frame 514, and the lower frame 516 are constituted of a steelmaterial. The base plate 510 is disposed along the front-rear directionand the right-left direction. The base pipe 512 extends along a lowersurface of a front lower portion of the bucket 502 and also extends inthe front-rear direction along a lower surface of the base plate 510.The base pipe 512 is screwed to the front lower portion of the bucket502 and is also screwed to the base plate 510. The upper frame 514 isdisposed between a lower surface of a rear lower portion of the bucket502 and an upper surface of the base plate 510, along the front-reardirection and the up-down direction. The upper frame 514 is screwed tothe rear lower portion of the bucket 502 and is also screwed to the baseplate 510. The lower frame 516 extends in the front-rear direction alongthe lower surface of the base plate 510. The lower frame 516 is weldedto the base plate 510. The handle 518 is located rearward of the bucket502. The handle 518 is screwed to the lower frame 516. The latchmechanism 520 is disposed below the handle 518. The latch mechanism 520is fixed to the base plate 510 and the lower frame 516.

The fixed support base 508 includes a right channel 522, a left channel524, a front plate 526, a rear plate 528, a reinforcement frame 530, anda latch receiver 532. All of the right channel 522, the left channel524, the front plate 526, the rear plate 528, and the reinforcementframe 530 are constituted of a steel material. The right channel 522 andthe left channel 524 extend in the front-rear direction. The rightchannel 522 has a cross-sectional shape with its left side opened, andthe left channel 524 has a cross-sectional shape with its right sideopened. The front plate 526 is welded to a front end of the rightchannel 522 and a front end of the left channel 524. The rear plate 528is welded to a rear end of the right channel 522 and a rear end of theleft channel 524. As shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, the third container unit500 is fixed to the chassis unit 4 by screwing the front plate 526 tothe right bracket 164 and the left bracket 170 of the front wheel unit12 and also screwing the rear plate 528 to the frame plate 130 of thechassis frame 10. As shown in FIG. 51, the reinforcement frame 530extends in the right-left direction, a right end thereof is welded tothe right channel 522, and a left end thereof is welded to the leftchannel 524. The latch receiver 532 is fixed at the vicinity of a centerof the rear plate 528. The latch receiver 532 is disposed at a positioncorresponding to the latch mechanism 520 of the movable support base504. When the movable support base 504 is tilted relative to the fixedsupport base 508 in a direction that brings a rear end of the movablesupport base 504 close to a rear end of the fixed support base 508, thelatch mechanism 520 engages with the latch receiver 532. The latchmechanism 520 includes an unlatch knob 520 a. The latch mechanism 520 isdisengaged from the latch receiver 532 by the user operating the unlatchknob 520 a when the latch mechanism 520 is engaged with the latchreceiver 532.

Upper ends of the support arms 506 are connected to the vicinity of afront end of the lower frame 516 of the movable support base 504 to bepivotable about a pivot axis, which is the right-left direction. Thesupport arms 506 are constituted of a steel material. Lower ends of thesupport arms 506 include rollers 506 a and 506 b, respectively. Therollers 506 a and 506 b are supported by the right channel 522 and theleft channel 524 of the fixed support base 508, respectively.

When the user operates the unlatch knob 520 a to disengage the latchmechanism 520 from the latch receiver 532 in the state shown in FIG. 49and further pivots the handle 518 in forward, the movable support base504 becomes tilted relative to the fixed support base 508 as shown inFIG. 50.

(Fourth Container Unit 600)

As shown in FIGS. 52 and 53, the fourth container unit 600 includes acontainer 602, a movable support base 604, a support arm (not shown),and a fixed support base 606. The fixed support base 606 of the fourthcontainer unit 600 is screwed and fixed to the chassis unit 4. Thefourth container unit 600 is configured to tilt the container 602relative to the fixed support base 606 by the user tilting the movablesupport base 604 relative to the fixed support base 606.

The container 602 includes a main frame 608, a right guard 610, a leftguard 612, and a front guard 614. The main frame 608 includes a framepipe 616, a floor pipe 618, a reinforcement pipe 620, a right guardretaining pipe 622, a left guard retaining pipe 624, and a front guardretaining pipe 626. All of the frame pipe 616, the floor pipe 618, thereinforcement pipe 620, the right guard retaining pipe 622, the leftguard retaining pipe 624, and the front guard retaining pipe 626 areconstituted of a steel material. The frame pipe 616 forms asubstantially rectangular shape of which longitudinal direction is alongthe front-rear direction and short direction is along, the right-leftdirection. The floor pipe 618 extends in the front-rear direction onsubstantially the same plane as the frame pipe 616, and front and rearends thereof are welded to the frame pipe 616. The reinforcement pipe620 extends in the right-left direction along, lower surfaces of theframe pipe 616 and the floor pipe 618 and is welded to the frame pipe616 and the floor pipe 618. The right guard retaining pipe 622 isdisposed in the vicinity of a right end of the main frame 608, extendsin the right-left direction along the lower surfaces of the frame pipe616 and the floor pipe 618, and is welded to the frame pipe 616 and thefloor pipe 618. The left guard retaining pipe 624 is disposed in thevicinity of a left end of the main frame 608, extends in the right-leftdirection along the lower surfaces of the frame pipe 616 and the floorpipe 618, and is welded to the frame pipe 616 and the floor pipe 618.The front guard retaining pipe 626 is disposed in the vicinity of afront end of the main frame 608, extends in the front-rear directionalong the lower surface of the floor pipe 618, and is welded to thefloor pipe 618. A hook 616 a projecting downward is disposed on thelower surface of the frame pipe 616. When roping a load placed on thecontainer 602, the user can hook the rope on the hook 616 a.

The right guard 610 includes a guard pipe 626 and an insertion pipe 630.The guard pipe 628 and the insertion pipe 630 are both constituted of asteel material. The guard pipe 628 forms a substantially rectangularshape of which longitudinal direction is along the front-rear directionand short direction is along the up-down direction. The insertion pipe630 extends in the right-left direction and a right end thereof iswelded to a lower portion of the guard pipe 628. Insertion of theinsertion pipe 630 into the right guard retaining pipe 622 enables theright guard 610 to be retained by the main frame 608. The right guardretaining pipe 622 includes a grip bolt 622 a. for fixing the positionof the insertion pipe 630 to the right, guard retaining pipe 622. Theuser adjusts the position of the right guard 610 to the main frame 608in the right-left direction with the grip bolt 622 a loosened and thentightens the grip bolt 622 a. to fix the right guard 610 at a desiredposition to the main frame 608.

The left guard 612 includes a guard pipe 632 and an insertion pipe 634.The guard pipe 632 and the insertion pipe 634 are both constituted of asteel material. The guard pipe 632 forms a substantially rectangularshape of which longitudinal direction is along the front-rear directionand short direction is along the up-down direction. The insertion pipe634 extends in the right-left direction and a left end thereof is weldedto a lower portion of the guard pipe 632. Insertion of the insertionpipe 634 into the left guard retaining pipe 624 enables the left guard612 to be retained by the main frame 608. The left guard retaining pipe624 includes a grip bolt 624 a for fixing the position of the insertionpipe 634 to the left guard retaining pipe 624. The user adjusts theposition of the left guard 612 to the main frame 608 in the right-leftdirection with the grip bolt 624 a loosened and then tightens the gripbolt 624 a to fix the left guard 612 at a desired position to the mainframe 608.

The front guard 614 includes a guard pipe 636 and an insertion pipe 638.The guard pipe 636 and the insertion pipe 638 are both constituted of asteel material. The guard pipe 636 forms a substantially rectangularshape of which longitudinal direction is along the right-left directionand short direction is along the up-down direction. The insertion pipe638 extends in the front-rear direction and a front end thereof iswelded to a lower portion of the guard pipe 636. Insertion of theinsertion pipe 638 into the front guard retaining pipe 626 enables thefront guard 614 to be retained by the main frame 608. The front guardretaining pipe 626 includes a grip bolt 626 a for fixing the position ofthe insertion pipe 638 to the front guard retaining pipe 626. The useradjusts the position of the front guard 614 to the main frame 608 in thefront-rear direction with the grip bolt 626 a loosened and then tightensthe grip bolt 626 a to fix the front guard 614 at a desired position tothe main frame 608.

The movable support base 604 includes a base plate 640, a lower frame642, a handle 644, and a latch mechanism 646. The configurations of thebase plate 640, the lower frame 642, the handle 644, and the latchmechanism 646 are similar to those of the base plate 510, the lowerframe 516, the handle 518, and the latch mechanism 520 of the thirdcontainer unit 500. The reinforcement pipe 620 of the main frame 608 isscrewed to the base plate 640.

The fixed support base 606 includes a right channel 648, a left channel650, a front plate 652, a rear plate 654, a reinforcement frame 656, anda latch receiver 658. The configuration of the fixed support base 606 issimilar to that of the fixed support base 508 of the third containerunit 500. Further, how the movable support base 604 is connected to thefixed support base 606 is similar to how the movable support base 504 isconnected to the fixed support base 508 in the third container unit 500.That is, most of the components of the fourth container unit 600 arecommon with the components of the third container unit 500. Similar tothe third container unit 500, when the user operates the unlatch knob646 a to disengage the latch mechanism 646 from the latch receiver 658in the state shown in FIG. 52 and further pivots the handle 644 forward,the movable support base 604 becomes tilted relative to the fixedsupport base 606 in the fourth container unit 600.

(Fifth Container Unit 700)

As shown in FIGS. 54 and 55, the fifth container unit 700 includes abucket 702 and a support base 704. The support base 704 Of the fifthcontainer unit 700 is screwed and fixed to the chassis unit 4. In thefifth container unit 700, the bucket 702 is not fixed to the supportbase 704, thus the user can lift the bucket 702 to remove it from thesupport base 704 and place the bucket 702 onto the support base 704.

As shown in FIG. 54, the bucket 702 has a box shape with its upper sideopened. A through hole 702 a is disposed in a lower portion of a frontsurface of the bucket 702. A cap 706 is detachably attached to thethrough hole 702 a.

As shown in FIG. 55, the support base 704 includes a central frame 708,a right channel 710, a left channel 712, a front plate 714, a rear plate716, a right guard 718, and a left guard 720. All of the central frame708, the right channel 710, the left channel 712, the front plate 714,and the rear plate 716 are constituted of a steel material. The centralframe 708, the right channel 710, and the left channel 712 extend alongthe front-rear direction. The front plate 714 is welded to a front endof the central frame 708, a front end of the right channel 710, and afront end of the left channel 712, The rear plate 716 is welded to arear end of the central frame 708, a rear end of the right channel 710,and a rear end of the left channel 712. As shown in FIG. 54, the fifthcontainer unit 700 is fixed to the chassis unit 4 by screwing the frontplate 714 to the right bracket 164 and the left bracket 170 of the frontwheel unit 12 and screwing the rear plate 716 to the frame plate 130 ofthe chassis frame 10.

The right guard 718 includes a guard pipe 722 and a reinforcement pipe724. The guard pipe 722 and the reinforcement pipe 724 are bothconstituted of a steel material. The guard pipe 722 extends in thefront-rear direction along a right surface of the bucket 702. The guardpipe 722 is bent downward and leftward at a front end of the bucket 702along a front surface of the bucket 702 and is connected to the frontplate 714. The guard pipe 722 is also bent downward and leftward at arear end of the bucket 702 along a rear surface of the bucket 702 and isconnected to the rear plate 716. The reinforcement pipe 724 connectsbetween the guard pipe 722 and the right channel 710.

As shown in FIG. 55, the left guard 720 includes a guard pipe 726 and areinforcement pipe 728. The guard pipe 726 and the reinforcement pipe728 are both constituted of a steel material. The guard pipe 726 extendsin the front-rear direction along a left surface of the bucket 702. Theguard pipe 726 is bent downward and rightward at the front end of thebucket 702 along the front surface of the bucket 702 and is connected tothe front plate 714. The guard pipe 726 is also bent downward andrightward at the rear end of the bucket 702 along the rear surface ofthe bucket 702 and is connected to the rear plate 716. The reinforcementpipe 728 connects between the guard pipe 722 and the left channel 712.

As described, in one or more embodiments, the cart 2 (an example ofhandcart) comprises the right front wheel 140 and the left front wheel142 (examples of drive wheel); the motor 150 (an example of prime mover)configured to rotate the right front wheel 140 and the left front wheel142; the right handle 18 and the left handle 20 (examples of gripportion) configured to be gripped by the user; and the taillight 74 (anexample of visibly noticeable portion) that is clearly noticeable frombehind the user when the user stands behind the cart 2, gripping theright handle 18 and the left handle 20.

In this configuration, the taillight 74 can be visually noticed frombehind the user even when the user stands behind the cart 2, grippingthe right handle 18 and the left handle 20. Thus, the configuration caninform a person or a car coming from behind that transferring work is inprogress with the cart 2.

In one or more embodiments, the taillight 74 configured to emit lightfunctions as a visibly noticeable portion that is clearly noticeable.

This configuration can surely inform a person or a car coming frombehind that transferring work is in progress with the cart 2, even whenthe cart 2 is used outdoor at night and/or in bad weather or the cart 2is used indoor, for example, in a factory.

In one or more embodiments, the right handle 18 includes the grip 38extending in the front-rear direction. The taillight 74 is disposedforward of the rear end of the grip 38.

In this configuration, when an object collides with the cart 2 frombehind it, the object collides with the rear end of the grip 38 beforereaching the taillight 74. Thus, damage to the taillight 74 can beprevented.

In one or more embodiments, the cart 2 further comprises the casing 66disposed near the grip 38 and the operation lever 72 (an example ofoperation member) supported by the casing 66 and configured to beoperable by the user with the user gripping the grip 38. The motor 150is configured to rotate the right front wheel 140 and the left frontwheel 142 when the operation lever 72 is operated by the user.

This configuration enables the user to perform an operation for drivingthe motor 150 while the user grips the grip 38, thus it improvesconvenience for the user.

In one or more embodiments, the taillight 74 is disposed on the rearsurface of the casing 66.

This configuration can simplify the configuration of the cart 2 ascompared to a configuration in which the taillight 74 is disposedseparately from the casing 66 which supports the operation lever 72.

In one or more embodiments, the cart 2 further comprises the alarm soundbutton 70 supported by the casing 66 and configured to be operable bythe user with the user gripping the grip 38; and the buzzer 124 (anexample of alarm sound emitter) configured to emit the alarm sound whenthe alarm sound button 70 is operated by the user.

This configuration can inform a person or a car that is present in otherdirections than behind the cart 2 that transferring work is in progresswith the cart 2, by emitting the alarm sound from the buzzer 124.Further, the configuration enables the user to perform an operation foremitting the alarm sound from the buzzer 124 while the user grips thegrip 38, thus it can improve the user's convenience,

In one or more embodiments, the motor 150 functions as a prime moverconfigured to rotate the right front wheel 140 and the left front wheel142.

This configuration can suppress vibrations transmitted to a load on thecart 2 as compared to a configuration in which an engine is used as theprime mover for rotating the right front wheel 140 and the left frontwheel 142.

In one or more embodiments, the cart 2 further comprises the batterymounting portions 110 to which the battery packs 112 are detachablyattached. The motor 150 is driven by electric power from the batterypacks 112.

This configuration enables the motor 150 to be supplied with theelectric power, without connecting the cart 2 with an external powersupply via a power cord.

What is claimed is:
 1. A handcart comprising: a drive wheel; a primemover configured to rotate the drive wheel; a grip portion configured tobe gripped by a user; and a visibly noticeable portion that is clearlynoticeable from behind the user when the user stands behind the handcartgripping the grip portion.
 2. The handcart according to claim 1, whereinthe visibly noticeable portion includes at least one of a taillightconfigured to emit light and a reflector configured to receive andreflect light.
 3. The handcart according to claim 1, wherein the gripportion includes a grip extending in a front-rear direction, and thevisibly noticeable portion is disposed forward of a rear end of thegrip.
 4. The handcart according to claim 3, further comprising: a casingdisposed near the grip; and an operation member supported by the casingand configured to be operable by the user with the user gripping thegrip, wherein the prime mover is configured to rotate the drive wheelwhen the operation member is operated by the user.
 5. The handcartaccording to claim 4, wherein the visibly noticeable portion is disposedon a rear surface of the casing.
 6. The handcart according to claim 4,further comprising: an alarm sound button supported by the casing andconfigured to be operable by the user with the user gripping the grip;and an alarm sound emitter configured to emit an alarm sound when thealarm sound button is operated by the user.
 7. The handcart according toclaim 1, wherein the prime mover includes a motor.
 8. The handcartaccording to claim 7, further comprising a battery mounting portion towhich a battery is detachably attached, wherein the motor is driven byelectric power from the battery.